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DefenderDawson28



Member Since: 30 Jan 2021
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 6

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Barolo Black
Bulkhead Removal Bar - Any regrets out there?
Hi All

Thinking of doing the full removal on my 90 and adding the bar. As a bit of a purist its playing with my beliefs Laughing Laughing
Has anyone done this and then had regrets? Did you not get any of the benefits you thought you might?

I'm 6ft 2 so would appreciate a little extra leg room and use the truck for camping trips and adventures with the mountain bike.

Cheers
Post #885629 15th Feb 2021 10:51am
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rockster57



Member Since: 15 Nov 2014
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 937

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver
When I had my 90HT I went through a similar thought process. I had grand plans of bulkhead removal, fold up rear seating, rear windows. I also used it for a lot of camping and mountain biking. In the end I couldn’t bring myself to do any of the mods. I decided I preferred the vehicle as a conventional hard top. When I bought my 90 it had a steel mesh cargo barrier which was such a bonus when it came to camping trips. SWMBO still likes her home comforts whilst camping which meant the Defender was packed to the rafters. On these trips I also carried 2 mountain bikes on a spare wheel mounted bike carrier. Although the roof rack was generally unladen I found the lower mounting point more convenient. Never struggled for space despite carrying every item the camping world has ever thought of. As for seat risers, I understand there is still a benefit even with the bulkhead still in place albeit not to the same degree if the bulkhead was gone obviously.

In the end it all worked well for my needs and preferences. I ended up selling all the kit I bought for the conversion and kept my Defender as a pure HT. I still admire and desire a 90HT and as soon as my lottery numbers kerching I would get one in a blink to run alongside my 110SW.

There endeth my reminisces. I doubt any of this helps you. My apologies Rolling Eyes
Post #885645 15th Feb 2021 11:47am
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davidblythe



Member Since: 27 Apr 2019
Location: Cheam, Surrey
Posts: 110

England 
I am 6ft 2, and old (56), legs can get a bit cramped now and again on a long trip, but no real issues

guess i have just got used to it

i have kept the bulkhead, 1999 90 TD5 CSW
2006 110 TD5 HD Commercial
Post #885648 15th Feb 2021 11:52am
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cee-b



Member Since: 25 Jan 2018
Location: South West
Posts: 117

United Kingdom 
I'm the same height as you (it seems from this post that 6'2" is average height Laughing).

I did the bulkhead delete using the kit from Mud UK and fitted riser rails (drivers' seat only). I also modified the hand brake so it doesn't sit where your left leg really aught to go. A Disco hand brake is now fitted and sits nicely between the drivers' seat and the cubby box.

With Exmoor Trim modular leather seats fitted, the Landie is now as comfortable as a modern saloon car; massive amounts of leg room, good recline on the seat back and no need to sit twisted or hunched up.

My only regret was not having done it years sooner.
Post #885690 15th Feb 2021 2:39pm
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3410

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
I bought a kit to fit on a family Defender. I purchased from one of the large companies in the UK.
My regret is that I did not check the parts very well. After drilling, I found that one of the brackets was welded on wrong so did not really fit well 🤬
In all fairness, after informing the supplier, they compensated for fixing the bad part, but then I already had holes in the Defender that had to be elongated to make fit (and still not a perfect fit) 🤬🤬🤬 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #885700 15th Feb 2021 3:31pm
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LandymanStefan



Member Since: 30 Aug 2017
Location: Surrey
Posts: 881

England 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Got a half height one in mine and love the extra legroom and recline. No regrets here.
Post #885722 15th Feb 2021 4:21pm
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Co1



Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3671

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Loire Blue
Got full bulk head removal bar as installed by LR when purchased. What is there to regret? More space with no downside.
Post #885752 15th Feb 2021 6:33pm
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Mossberg



Member Since: 29 Feb 2020
Location: Lancs
Posts: 553

United Kingdom 1993 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Aintree Green
I have a tatty old Defender so just want it functional, not shiny. Made my own bulkhead bar and seat risers.

Just under 6'4" and the difference is good. I like the way the seat is further back and also less upright.
Post #885770 15th Feb 2021 8:58pm
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Hufflepuff



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 727

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Tonga Green
cee-b wrote:
I also modified the hand brake so it doesn't sit where your left leg really aught to go. A Disco hand brake is now fitted and sits nicely between the drivers' seat and the cubby box.


That is an interesting sounding modification, having just built a brand new seat box from YRM parts, but not yet drilled the handbrake hole.

At the risk of derailing this thread - do you have a picture of it please? Was it fairly straight forward to do?


<edit> hmm found the following page which shows you how to do it with a Range Rover handbrake, very interesting indeed, the standard position is a pain. https://reedx.net/range-rover-handbrake-lever/ 2005 Td5 90 XS
1989 V8 110 CSW
Post #885780 15th Feb 2021 9:33pm
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 398

United Kingdom 
I like the storage space between the seats and the bulkhead and depending on what you put in the back, the bulkhead does stop things coming forward into the back of the seats and the cubby box

although I am not as tall and my roll cage is the limiting factor before the bulkhead anyway so would be a bit of a waste of time for me
Post #885816 16th Feb 2021 8:15am
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LandymanStefan



Member Since: 30 Aug 2017
Location: Surrey
Posts: 881

England 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Agree with the above to a certain extent which is why I kept a half bulkhead. I have my subwoofer mounted behind the middle seat on it with the whole thing covered in 5mm silent coat so it doesn’t rattle. A good place for mounting a small jack and wiring. And having the half height still stops the majority of stuff crashing into the seats
Post #885830 16th Feb 2021 10:33am
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cee-b



Member Since: 25 Jan 2018
Location: South West
Posts: 117

United Kingdom 

Click image to enlarge

Hufflepuff wrote:
cee-b wrote:
I also modified the hand brake so it doesn't sit where your left leg really aught to go. A Disco hand brake is now fitted and sits nicely between the drivers' seat and the cubby box.


That is an interesting sounding modification, having just built a brand new seat box from YRM parts, but not yet drilled the handbrake hole.

At the risk of derailing this thread - do you have a picture of it please? Was it fairly straight forward to do?


<edit> hmm found the following page which shows you how to do it with a Range Rover handbrake, very interesting indeed, the standard position is a pain. https://reedx.net/range-rover-handbrake-lever/


I used a Disco 2 handbrake, the RR one is very similar (maybe even the same?). A vid is here: (the vid is for a TDCi, mine is a Td5)

And this is how mine looks.
Post #885834 16th Feb 2021 11:25am
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Hufflepuff



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 727

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Tonga Green
Excellent information, thanks cee-b - off to e-bay I go in search of a handbrake Very Happy 2005 Td5 90 XS
1989 V8 110 CSW
Post #885846 16th Feb 2021 12:15pm
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