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Home > General & Technical (L663) > My New Defender - Are they any good for Overlanding?

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BruceT

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

I have just returned from a 4500km Overland trip around Zimbabwe where I visited the far North as well as the Far South and many places in between. I can report back that the Defender handled everything with ease and pure comfort. I love this vehicle. Here are some pictures but there will be a series of episodes coming up covering the trip where I did everything from soft sand to overgrown bush tracks as well as rocky terrain etc etc. I was even chased by elephants who wanted to protect their very young.

Click image to enlarge

Epic epic trip! "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

Last edited by BruceT on 27th May 2022 6:09am. Edited 1 time in total

27th May 2022 5:59am

BruceT

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

sorry keep getting an error message when trying to upload pictures. Will try again later and load more. "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

27th May 2022 6:02am

BruceT

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

Finally managed to up load some pictures from the Zimbabwe trip. Hope you enjoy

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge "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

28th May 2022 5:31pm

BruceT

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

I also fitted a new roof top tent today

28th May 2022 5:32pm

BruceT

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

Part 1 of the Zimbabwe trip is up. Hope you enjoy:

"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

10th Jun 2022 7:30pm

cyberhusky

Member Since: 09 Feb 2021
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 274

BruceT wrote:
I also fitted a new roof top tent today

Hi Bruce
Excuse my curiosty, why the rooftent change from bigger softshell to smaller (in height) hardcase?
Which brand is the rofftent?

Why I ask?
Well I had a spinal disc herniation now I'm on recovery after surgery last week.
The sliping disc occurred when I wanted to roll up my rooftent's (softshell) door 4 weeks ago. (Probably all other bad movements the last years too)

Now I'm considering another tent as acrobatic movements on my Defender seem to be over for the next months.
Plus I read a great article about rooftent in a French outdoor mag which states the only resonable tents are the 360° Rooftents by James Baroud made since last year with new materials. All other tents have benefits, but they all (except for Autohome) use ripstop material which is strong but won't get rid of moisture. And Autohome hasn't continued invention the last years, there models are still the same.
Softshells are pain to setup. 22MY Defender 110 (actual) | 10MY Freelander 2 (history) | 15MY Discovery Sport HSE (history)

10th Jun 2022 8:54pm

stng110

Member Since: 04 Jun 2021
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 102

BruceT wrote:
Part 1 of the Zimbabwe trip is up. Hope you enjoy:

Great video, Bruce. Especially the huddled nighttime reflection on being eaten by lions

Keep up the good work.

S

11th Jun 2022 7:29am

BruceT

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

cyberhusky wrote:
BruceT wrote:
I also fitted a new roof top tent today

Hi Bruce
Excuse my curiosty, why the rooftent change from bigger softshell to smaller (in height) hardcase?
Which brand is the rofftent?

Why I ask?
Well I had a spinal disc herniation now I'm on recovery after surgery last week.
The sliping disc occurred when I wanted to roll up my rooftent's (softshell) door 4 weeks ago. (Probably all other bad movements the last years too)

Now I'm considering another tent as acrobatic movements on my Defender seem to be over for the next months.
Plus I read a great article about rooftent in a French outdoor mag which states the only resonable tents are the 360° Rooftents by James Baroud made since last year with new materials. All other tents have benefits, but they all (except for Autohome) use ripstop material which is strong but won't get rid of moisture. And Autohome hasn't continued invention the last years, there models are still the same.
Softshells are pain to setup.

The soft shell is actually my daughters that I borrowed for the Zimbabwe trip. I chose the hard shell as it’s very easy to set up. I only use a roof top tent when I am by myself as I have a Conqueror Companion platinum that I use when my wife is with me so don’t actually need more space.

All the best with your recovery mate. "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

11th Jun 2022 2:06pm

BruceT

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

stng110 wrote:
BruceT wrote:
Part 1 of the Zimbabwe trip is up. Hope you enjoy:

Great video, Bruce. Especially the huddled nighttime reflection on being eaten by lions

Keep up the good work.

S

Thank you very much. Did you notice how I had the landy protecting my back?

Thanks so much for watching and I am glad you enjoyed it "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

11th Jun 2022 2:07pm

Tim in Scotland

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

Lovely photos and video Bruce, I headed off in the opposite direction to North Norway today but not by Land Rover Defender. Shall we say things didn’t get off to a great start……… flight to Bergen cancelled rebooked for tomorrow morning instead………. Oh the delights of trying to fly post pandemic in Europe.
From home to Norway by Defender would have added 5 days onto each end of the trip by adding a drive to Dover, through France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden before even getting to Norway! There are no ferries on the “northern” route even out of Hull now so best option was to fly and rent a car 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!

11th Jun 2022 2:15pm

BruceT

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

Thank you Tim.

All the best with your travels. Sounds like it’s not been fun so far hope it improves. "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

11th Jun 2022 2:27pm

J77

Member Since: 04 Nov 2019
Location: Fife
Posts: 3392

Looking forward to the second instalment.

I’m off to the outer Hebrides tomorrow, no lions there

24MY 90 D250 HSE, Tasman Blue

11th Jun 2022 3:41pm

BruceT

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

Thank you J77. I had to google Hebrides. Looks awesome and not surprised there are no Lions there. Have a great trip

"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

11th Jun 2022 4:52pm

JOW240725

Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7905

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey

Great to hear the New Defender is doing what it should but in comfort! Amazing photos, I look forward to watching the video when I have more time.

Other than the interior fit out (fridge etc) and tent have you done any mechanical mods to the vehicle? 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

12th Jun 2022 6:33am

BruceT

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

The only “mechanical” mod I have done is the dual battery system. Nothing else except I do have Compromotives and AT tyres that I will be fitting as soon as the TPMS’s arrive.

12th Jun 2022 7:35am

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