 | Home > My Defender > My Camel, the ol Tdci 130 |
 
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| Ronin Member Since: 09 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 213   
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What a fantastic post
My 130 is the starting point; yours must be near the end. Great reading, cheers. Joel |
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11th Jun 2014 10:22pm |
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| newhue Member Since: 28 Apr 2014 Location: Brisbane Posts: 351 
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Well you'd think so but there is always something to tinker on, it's just slowed down a bit I guess. Now I'm out of warranty I have the whole nanocom-maintanence side of things to learn.
However my most recent addition was getting the choofa (billy) in a quick realise position. I'm a bit of a coffee junky and this thing boils water in a minute of so from twigs. 
And I have some painting to do on the weekend. Just got these back and have been washing them with citric acid trying to dull them up a bit. |
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12th Jun 2014 7:48am |
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| Eduardo Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: Región Metropolitana Posts: 2109  
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Nice Defender!
Congratulations newhue and keep going Eduardo MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64' MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo" Click image to enlarge |
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12th Jun 2014 11:54am |
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| Samblers Member Since: 29 Jan 2014 Location: Perth, innit Posts: 63 
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Amazing post and pics, thanks for sharing.
One of the best/ most practical touring Defenders out there i'd say. |
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12th Jun 2014 11:57am |
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| mick Member Since: 08 Feb 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2109  
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Awesome pics and write up
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12th Jun 2014 9:33pm |
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| newhue Member Since: 28 Apr 2014 Location: Brisbane Posts: 351
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This is the base plate, its bolted through the 3mm roof and 50mm alloy square box framing underneath. Now I'm not sure how the welder made the thread inside, but it has done very well for the last 4 years with minimal grease on the bolt.
Initially the plate was just flat and the bolt sat proud. Unfortunately when the gas bottle idea came along the bottom of the bottle just tapped the bolt and rattled. In hind sight a spacer hoop around the outside probably was easier for the welder then counter sinking the hole. I use a manual tie down nylon strap to hold the bottle down, a ratchet type seems overkill. I accept the safety nazi's may see it differently.
The upside of the counter sinking idea was the plate inserted down into the centre of the rim.
And that's about really. The system has survived two sessions of around 4000km each trip on crappy corrugated roads. Neither the bottle or the wheel has come loose or even looked like it. I have to admit however, pushing 40kg of 33" mud and wolf rim onto the roof may see a change as I get older. But at the moment it's good for the bones and muscles. The two 3kg gas bottles give me redundancy and about 12 to 14 days of gas, which is about out water supply. |
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13th Jun 2014 7:16am |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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Many thanks - superb level of detail to be really useful if someone wanted to copy
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13th Jun 2014 7:35am |
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| SiWhite Member Since: 19 Jan 2010 Location: North Hampshire Posts: 455 
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Great vehicle. My next project is likely to be a 130 restoration with galvanised everything... My blog - www.anacreinhampshire.blogspot.co.uk
110 TD5 BuildHERE - sold! 110 Tdci Build HERE - sold! Passat Alltrack - 4x4, auto, 45mpg, gloriously comfortable - but not a Defender! |
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13th Jun 2014 9:36am |
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| newhue Member Since: 28 Apr 2014 Location: Brisbane Posts: 351
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Been a productive weekend though it has been raining a bit. Also been hassle free which is nice for spray painting. A few laps of 2 pack primer undercoat, and a few more of satin black and all ready for a week of curing.
It's hard to see here because the photo is average. But really happy with the look and how the citric acid took the gloss of the silver. Gal looks as if its 12 months old and weathered a bit now. I did't paint the treads because in Aus the sills get very hot in summer. The kids can't stand on them and the paint always wear off the checker anyway. |
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15th Jun 2014 7:06am |
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| newhue Member Since: 28 Apr 2014 Location: Brisbane Posts: 351
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The mid year school holiday arrived and we took a punt, that going to Fraser Island in winter would see the crowds significantly reduced. Turns out we were right. However winter is a great time of year in South East Queensland. Days have a high in the low to mid 20’s, and lows of about 14˚C. The days are clear, water is still warm from summer, but people think its freezing at the beach.
Fraser Island is the worlds biggest sand island. Its length is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) and its width is approximately 24 kilometres (15 mi). Like it or not it has World Heritage Status these day, but has always had some pretty cool stuff. So off we went for our fourth visit to the island. It is only 3.5 hours North from home before and we made the short crossing on the ferry.
Once you hit the beach you just can’t help but relax. And seeing the familiar sea birds make one feel at home.
It wasn’t long before another local arrived. The native dingos have been vilified for some years now because of dumb humans. People get all warm and fuzzy over them thinking they are similar to a domestic dog, often feeding them to try and get a good pic. Really it’s a matter of stopping and observing, and with a bit of luck you get a reasonable shot, which makes you look like you fed it. And No I didn’t. Dingo numbers have been culled over recent years. With no natural enemy, plenty of lazy campers with bad habits, made for plenty of easy food, which created bad dog behavior, and ended with lots of breeding and rouge pack behavior. The catalyst for the culling was a child eventually died, after several close call attacks. With the dogs running more wild than usual, and with kids walking around with food in their hands something had to give. So now the number are much smaller, rangers drive it home about feeding dogs, and things are much safer and better really. We camped for two weeks this time in several remote spots, with two children and had no issues at all. We did the same a few years earlier with the same results.
So time to find a quite camp on top of the dune and settle in
Not a bad view hey
Now Fraser Island has some big trees. It has a huge amount of vegetation types, and logging for hard wood stopped in 1991.
It also has some gorgeous lakes. All a bit different, all perched, all fresh water.
Of course it would not be a beach holiday without a few fresh fish in the pan. I am no fisherman and these are only scabby Dart. But less than an hour old and with a bit of butter they tasted as good as it gets.
Here is a lesson for you, don’t go exploring tight bushy tracks with the rod on the roof. Because eventually you hear something else crack besides the branched on the shrubs.
Anyway enough East coast camping, we headed to a nice sandy tidal inlet on the West. We really got into this spot. Plenty for the kids to see, Turtles, Sting Rays, birds, various crustaceans, and small fish in the tidal pools. Plus it was so quiet, relaxing, and beautiful.
The ol Dingo is hard to spot sometimes, but they always let you know they are around.
We wanted to visit Sandy Cape at the tip of the island as we have never been there. We knew we were in for a treat once we made the point.
Gee I love this car, the ol camel does well for itself. The places it takes us, the crap it carries, the effortless capability, and relative comfort.
So we set up camp, found another nice quiet spot.
There are many sand blows on the island. Many make for good sand boarding, many have nice walks to them, many are just magical to walk across. We were lucky our camp had a huge blow right beside it.
quite amazing how they slowly march across the island consuming every thing in their path.
I don’t know about you, but I find it inspirational, or why one does things when you drive a virgin bit of sand, or a remote rack. Just the feeling of being the only one on that day is quite special.
We were on our way to the light house. The stiff short walk up the hill got the heart started again for the day. Built in 1870, 33m (108ft) tall, 2.5 times over budget to build it, and a range of 23 nautical miles. No longer manned sadly. Converted to batteries on solar it still stands silently and proudly. Something about light houses.
We spent a few days up here, and felt like the only people on earth at the end of the earth. I run the risk of trashing the place letting it out of the bag about this place I guess. But I can tell you a Defender was made for this stuff so it can’t be all that bad. I’ll leave you with some more images of our time at the top. We did finish off the trip with a few days in the Kingfisher Bay Resort. And though nice, my heat remans with the tent, the defender, and the wild places it takes me.
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12th Jul 2014 12:43pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018
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Fantastic photos - well nealry all of them
Never made it to Fraser island on my last trip to Oz, but then I'm guessing my Holden would not have even made it onto the ferry. Very jealous, it looks a fantastic place. |
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12th Jul 2014 1:45pm |
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| newhue Member Since: 28 Apr 2014 Location: Brisbane Posts: 351
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Supacat, do you think my ass looks fat in that
Well at least you made it to Aus, I'm still in winder land about getting to Europe. Would love to do Iceland, and a few others. I watch Le Tour De France and drool how beautiful the country side is, how cute and romantic the villages look. Austria just blows me away, it would all be good. maybe one day. |
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13th Jul 2014 6:22am |
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| pob1968 Member Since: 20 Apr 2014 Location: uk Posts: 239 |
Wow wow wow, absolutely amazing Land Rover and thoroughly enjoyed reading about it and your trips, wonderful and inspiring 110 Hardtop
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13th Jul 2014 9:21am |
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| captain slow Member Since: 22 Jun 2011 Location: Herts Posts: 355 
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 fantastic - great conversion, great stories, great country 2.2 Tdci 110 XS CSW Corris Grey
Prince Harry's D3 (gone but not forgotten) 300 Tdi 110 CSW (gone but not forgotten) |
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13th Jul 2014 10:58am |
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