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G&T



Member Since: 13 Jul 2021
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 38

United Kingdom 
@Steve good honest experience and reassuring information - thanks
Post #980013 27th Jan 2023 10:29am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
@Stevemfr thank you so much. Im sorry I am only responding now but I never got a notification from this thread and honestly forgot about it. Thank you very much for the support and hope you continue to enjoy my channel although Im an absolute beginner.

I am waiting very patiently for your new tool and will be checking now if it is ready. I will be ordering as soon as one is able to be purchased.

All the best and thank you for the compliments which have made my day "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #989812 21st Apr 2023 12:58pm
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stevemfr



Member Since: 18 Sep 2022
Location: Strasbpurg
Posts: 137

France 
@Bruce I am overlanding in southern Africa vicariously through your channel Laughing
At least until we can get there ourselves. You being a beginner doesn't really show. Your videos are interesting and lively and your narration is spot on. What more could you want?

We will be releasing the final version of the software soon. If you like, you can purchase now though and we will give you access to the beta software. It is bug free and stable, but there are still functions missing here and there. Send me a PM if you're interested. 
RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s,
2 FL1s and a L663 on the way
Post #989842 21st Apr 2023 5:59pm
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
Thank you so much. Cheque is in the mail Laughing seriously though it's so nice to hear that so thank you.

I am definetly interested in ordering one. Will PM you now. Thank you "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #989878 22nd Apr 2023 6:49am
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gknorman



Member Since: 26 Apr 2023
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1

United States 
Yes, L663's do overlanding in the States
New member here, confirming some L663's here are used for overlanding in the U.S. - mine is the 2022 Trek Edition Defender P300 (far left in photo) on a trip to Johnson Valley with the Southern California Rover Club this past weekend.



Click image to enlarge
Post #990457 26th Apr 2023 6:21pm
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JohnW



Member Since: 10 Feb 2023
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2

Australia 
I am taking our 110 D300 across the Simpson a few weeks after it gets off the boat later this year.
I wonder why there's a thought that just because you are remote, something is going to fail when we don't have the same concern for the 10's of thousands of non-remote km.
Why have, for instance, all modern aircraft converted to computerised systems, even small aircraft - mostly because they are way more reliable than the cart-horse mechanical systems they replace. Unarguably more remote travel.

2002 D2 Td5 ES
2013 D4 3.0 HSE
Post #990535 27th Apr 2023 11:02am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
Just ignore the nay sayers. Ive been traveling to very remote areas in my New Defenders for the past 2 years and over 50k kms and loved every second of it. This week Thursday I will be traveling to the Zambezi valley and other places where I will be very far from any help.
It's like any vehicle, know how to use it and its limitations or quirks and you will be fine.

Most people would say, it has 85 ECU's and if one of those fail you are stuffed. What they fail to mention is that the important ECU's have redundancy and back ups built into them and the rest do things like control the air condition, radio or electric windows as examples.

Enjoy your vehicle. Australia is on my bucket list. "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #991109 2nd May 2023 5:21am
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stevemfr



Member Since: 18 Sep 2022
Location: Strasbpurg
Posts: 137

France 
Exactly how I feel. And what I have been doing for the past 20 years. After going to somewhat more remote places im our P38 (such as the Sahara/northern Africa), everything else was laughable. Laughing

That said, there are things I would not try in a newer Land Rover (but I doubt anyone "overlanding" would be doing this regardless of the vehicle in question)


Click image to enlarge
 
RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s,
2 FL1s and a L663 on the way
Post #991128 2nd May 2023 8:46am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
Ummm........not as bad but here is what I had to do as we were a little trapped with no other option. And I had walked 4 separate crossings in the crocodile infested river......no issues at all and no water ingress. Oh wait I lie........... I did break a clip on one of the classic mudflaps that could have been broken before the crossing im not sure Laughing

https://youtube.com/shorts/DUOQeYjr7l0

PS. I replied on WhatsApp Steve "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #991130 2nd May 2023 8:52am
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Naks



Member Since: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Stellenbosch, ZA
Posts: 2629

South Africa 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Alpine White
According to ASPW, you shouldn't Rolling with laughter

 --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ
Post #1005875 30th Aug 2023 8:47am
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Tim in Scotland



Member Since: 23 May 2007
Location: The Land that time forgot
Posts: 3753

 
AStPW doesn’t half get worked up about Defender, nobody is making him buy one. I know serveral people who have done extended offroad trips to Iceland and into Africa and one who is about to head off - the only issue I have heard reported back is weak sidewalls on GY OEM tyres, otherwise the cars have performed faultlessly and one of those was a 110 PHEV
It will be interesting to see how he rates the new Land Cruiser / Lexus that will have much of what Defender now has too……… Pangea Green D250 90 HSE with Air Suspension, Off-road Pack, Towing Pack, Black Contrast roof , rear recovery eyes, Front bash plate, Classic flaps all round, extended wheel arch kit and a few bits from PowerfulUK Expel Clear Gloss PPF to come
2020 D240 1st Edition in Pangea Green with Acorn interior. Now gone - old faithful, no mechanical issues whatsoever ever but the leaks and rattles all over the place won’t be missed!
Post #1005880 30th Aug 2023 9:11am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
ASPW is a knob and only does these sort of videos to get views. He is biased according to who gave him free stuff until a better option comes along!

I have done close to 75k kms of overlanding far off the tar in mine without any issues. (see my Youtube channel).
Yes there are some irritations and silly/stupid features but there are ways of working around them.

I also have a WhatsApp group of around 45 members who use their NEW Defenders extensively mostly here in Africa and not a single major issue has been reported. Any issues have been silly ones like updates not happening or CarPlay not working as it should.....not exactly major.

ASPW is only irritated with LR because he wasnt involved or invited to the ND's launch and his hatred to LR is very apparent. I refuse to watch anything he produces or trust anything he says. "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #1005883 30th Aug 2023 9:24am
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stevemfr



Member Since: 18 Sep 2022
Location: Strasbpurg
Posts: 137

France 
I still enjoy Andrew's vids every now and again - but he is anything but a technical expert. He knows his way around 4wd's and has obviously had more than a little experience in "vehicular travel". But he is no engineer and, what has put me off a little in numerous vids in the last couple of years, spouts off on tech topics that he has very little understanding of. And the worst is when he talks himself into a rage... I think assuming that, as an untrained individual, he knows more than a team of engineers at a major auto manufacturer is more than just a little presumptuous.

Topics that he's gotten completely wrong (that I've seen and remember off the top of my head) range from the aerodynamics of his Land Cruiser (hood scoop), the effect his roof conversion has on the CG of his LC, to solar electrics and the air suspension on newer Land Rovers - on which he was rebutted and proven wrong by at least 2 other YT channels.

All that said I still enjoy his content. But I don't consider his opinion on this topic as any sort of standard. See my post above too.

As far as whether or not the L663 is ideally suited to overland travel or not goes - I think the jury is still out on that one. Time will tell. Later Land Rovers were definitely suited IMO - especially if you had the proper tools ( Whistle ). But the MHEV adds another layer...

What I do not agree with is that the Grenadier is much more suited to this sort of travel than the Defender. The Grenadier is quite full of BMW electronics. My experience there has not been much different than with LR electronics. 
RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s,
2 FL1s and a L663 on the way
Post #1005885 30th Aug 2023 9:35am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
Agree 100%. I also think it will also all depend on what you consider as Overland Travel.

For the average person it is 2 to 6 weeks of traveling. For others it's living out of your vehicle for years.



He is busy kissing butt with Grenadier in the hope he will get one for free or a long term test vehicle. It's what he does.
Watch how his attitude towards them will change if they dont kiss his butt or give him what he wants. "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #1005891 30th Aug 2023 9:48am
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lightning



Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2703

United Kingdom 
Personally l think the Grenadier is more suited for Overlanding because it's basically designed for that purpose with all the on-road compromises that brings, such as the steering setup.

Not that the Defender won't do it, of course it will. But the new Defender has been designed to excel on-road which is where most of them live, and also be capable off road.

The Grenadier is the other way round, designed to excel off-road and acceptable on road, very much like the old Defender.

l've taken my new Defender off road and also driven the Grenadier. Only on tarmac though.
Post #1005977 31st Aug 2023 6:53am
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