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Giby_off



Member Since: 05 Apr 2015
Location: Sofia
Posts: 63

Bulgaria 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SVX Station Wagon Havana
Two roof tents
Hi,

Planning to install 2 roof tents on top of my Defender. Each tent weights around 50 kg, so they will weight around 100 to 120 kg with 4 Thule high roof bars. Do you think I have to replace standard shock absorbers and standard springs in order to preserve the car stability?
If I replace the standard shocks with Koni RAID what springs should I use?

Thank you!
Post #860825 10th Oct 2020 11:58am
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Giby_off



Member Since: 05 Apr 2015
Location: Sofia
Posts: 63

Bulgaria 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SVX Station Wagon Havana
Then tents have arrived. I also replaced the original shocks with KONI RAID for improved stability when I put the tents on top. Unfortunately this will happen in the beginning of next spring.
Hopefully will not have to change the springs.
Post #872199 9th Dec 2020 7:31pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7906

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
I'm guess with two tents, luggage and gear for 4 (?) people, heavy duty springs maybe required?

Look forward to seeing some photos! Thumbs Up James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #872202 9th Dec 2020 7:42pm
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
Or stiffer anti roll bars. Weight so high up, the truck will roll a bit in corners. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #872203 9th Dec 2020 7:48pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8030

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
i think it will be sagging a bit when fully loaded with people. which two tents did you fit?

air bags rear is and option.

if springs need doing i would consider OME. worth a call/email to Gywn Lewis. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #872210 9th Dec 2020 8:40pm
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donmacn



Member Since: 06 Nov 2017
Location: Nth Scotland
Posts: 1841

 
I'm specifically not trying to be provocative, so a straightforward question.

I thought the dynamic limit for a Defender roof was 75kg. Have I got that wrong? At 120kg above it's pushing towards near twice that. I think my setup will be pretty close to 75kg when I'd done, maybe a shade over.

Leaving aside any considerations about suspension or handling, I was concerned about the impact of that on top of what is a fairly flexible vehicle structure - all the key components just bolted together. I do have an internal roll cage, which will brace the B pillars and rear tub to the chassis (though even that's a bolted construction.)

In a real world sense, should I be concerned if there's experience of others regularly using higher loads? I can also see that it could make a difference if you were using the car on tarmac/level ground vs more off road terrain where the lateral/jerking movement of a roof top load could exert more force on the body? Donald

1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong
(The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html )
2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8

in the past..
RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi
1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box
1993 Discovery 300Tdi

not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper...
Post #872250 10th Dec 2020 8:42am
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Giby_off



Member Since: 05 Apr 2015
Location: Sofia
Posts: 63

Bulgaria 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SVX Station Wagon Havana
I am planning to install the tents in the beginning of next spring, so I will not only than if I will need new springs and \ or external roll cage.
100 kg (this is the tents combined weight) are more than the factory limit of 75kg but l hope that LR eng had left some reserve Smile
I saw many Defenders with two roof tents on the net and I believe their weight is more than 100 kgs. I hope I am not going to have issues
Post #872282 10th Dec 2020 1:43pm
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RoadForce



Member Since: 17 Jul 2014
Location: Holland
Posts: 335

Netherlands 2000 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Coniston Green
I'm wondering if you may have an issue with your insurance company if you have an accident/rollover and they find out about the excessive roof loading...? Defender 130 HCPU Td5 MY2000
Post #872292 10th Dec 2020 2:34pm
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Giby_off



Member Since: 05 Apr 2015
Location: Sofia
Posts: 63

Bulgaria 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SVX Station Wagon Havana
I hope I will not roll over. Worst case scenarios:

1. No insurance
2. Will remove one of the tent and then will call the police \ insurance company.
3. I will have to install roll cage and put the tents on it. This will minimize the roof stress.

I am sure there are many people out there who load their roofs with 100 kg on daily basis.
Anyway, I will have to change my driving style and be very carful when I climb or descend Alps Smile
Post #872305 10th Dec 2020 3:24pm
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RoadForce



Member Since: 17 Jul 2014
Location: Holland
Posts: 335

Netherlands 2000 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Coniston Green
Giby_off wrote:
I hope I will not roll over. Worst case scenarios:

1. No insurance
2. Will remove one of the tent and then will call the police \ insurance company.
3. I will have to install roll cage and put the tents on it. This will minimize the roof stress.

I am sure there are many people out there who load their roofs with 100 kg on daily basis.
Anyway, I will have to change my driving style and be very carful when I climb or descend Alps Smile


Ok so you loose control of the car and hit a pedestrian, or even roll it over on top of him, injuring yourself to the point that you won't be able get rid of that 2nd RTT, and the pedestrian is killed or, even worse (finacially speaking): crippling him. Without insurance that'll cost you a fair bit of money for quite a long time.

And even if you didn't injure yourself and were in fact able to remove the RTT, how do you think that would look on a witness statement?

I know I know, all very unlikely. But in my world, the definition of risk is [the chance of something going wrong] x [the amount of trouble I'm in when it does go wrong]. The former perhaps being not so great, but latter being considerable.

And mind you: 100+ kg up on the roof doesn't help the already poor Defender handling, and that weight limit is probably there for a reason...

In the end it's your call. Suffice to say that I don't think you and I would make the same choice... Whistle Defender 130 HCPU Td5 MY2000
Post #872312 10th Dec 2020 4:32pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8030

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Drive it with respect, 100kg on the roof will be workable.

How heavy is a rack with roof tent with two people in it..........? Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #872322 10th Dec 2020 5:14pm
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Rashers



Member Since: 21 Jun 2015
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3499

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
I would buy a caravan Laughing
Post #872323 10th Dec 2020 5:15pm
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Giby_off



Member Since: 05 Apr 2015
Location: Sofia
Posts: 63

Bulgaria 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SVX Station Wagon Havana
jst wrote:
Drive it with respect, 100kg on the roof will be workable.

How heavy is a rack with roof tent with two people in it..........?


This is what I say. Upgrading the car and driving with respect is what I am aiming to do.
I do not thing that people who install 35 inches wheels and removing anti-roll bars are much safer. Any way I will try it and if it is OK will use it for EU and Africa trip. If not will sell one of the tents or put second one on my wife's car Smile
Any other thoughts about 100 KGs on Defender roof?
Post #872329 10th Dec 2020 5:49pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8030

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Two tents will be fine. Only thing I would do is mount them both to one rack and have one solid lump moving rather than two independent lumps. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #872334 10th Dec 2020 6:33pm
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BykerPete



Member Since: 02 Feb 2015
Location: Midlands
Posts: 159

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Willow Green
Two Tents
Picture of my Defender back in 2002. Drove from UK to South Africa with wife and three children. Extended Brownchurch Rack and two of their rooftop tents fitted. Twin shocks on rear (Old Man Emu) and HD Springs all round. No problems encountered. Still have that Defender but the tents have been replaced with a Dormobile Conversion. Take it steady off road and on corners and roundabouts and you should be okay. Note that the extended rack had additional supports at the front and rear to the window blocks and rear cappings.

 Drink Coffee, Talk to Strangers and Take Photos.
Post #872483 11th Dec 2020 6:55pm
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