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| kbf1981 Member Since: 22 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 183  
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What underbody protection could I / should I be looking at for a Puma Defender 110? I taken it on some very rocky routes before, and use it off road every so often (sometimes quite hard going terrain, but this is quite rare).
I remember someone telling me it's worth getting a fuel cooler guard, something like this? http://www.neneoverland.co.uk/shop/categor...oler-guard Thanks! |
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16th Dec 2016 12:37pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20474
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I have the Devon 4x4 fuel cooler Guard, there is a trans and handbrake guard and slider they do as well.
I've got a steering guard, HD galv one by Rebel & QT wrap around diff guards. (Now known as Wildbear I believe.) Definitely get the Fuel Cooler one first. https://www.devon4x4.com/defender-tdci-fuel-cooler-guard.html No Guts, No Glory. 🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 |
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16th Dec 2016 1:03pm |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7907 
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I was recommended to fit a steering guard, diff guards and fuel cooler guard. Worth noting the 2.2 fuel cooler guard is different to the 2.4. The 2.2 guard protects just the pipes but the 2.4 protects the actual cooler. I have an early 2.2 which on trying to fit the 2.2 guard turns out still has the 2.4 fuel cooler!
Anyhow.... I highly recommend the Far Corners protection...  Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 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 |
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16th Dec 2016 2:42pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8086  
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a lot of the big lumps underneath will actually take a fair bit of knocking without damage if your looking at the occasional off roader, they add weight but do help with sliding over things.
for me the most important is brake pipe protection ( ensure pipes are tight to axle etc) i replace the flexis with banjo fittings straight to calipers to do away with the top join, Plus steering so drop arm shielding and upgrading drag and track rods get my vote first. Gwyn Lewis gets my vote on track rod protection with the box section and upgraded arms for both track and drag. Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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16th Dec 2016 8:28pm |
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| HardCharger Member Since: 03 Mar 2013 Location: Manila Posts: 740  
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Quick question on the track rod protectors, how do they work, exactly? If I have the bar type steering protector as opposed to the plate type ones, will adding a track rod protector help keep me going?
Thanks. |
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19th Dec 2016 1:28am |
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| alantd Member Since: 14 Dec 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1513 
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Always a debate on underbody protection: add weight = get stuck; leave unprotected = break things.
Priority has to be Diffs (front then rear). Get a proper one as shown above - the little front pan cups aren't up to much and have been known to fall off. Then it's steering. I have a skid plate. Devon-Rover is right - they can act as a plough in reverse (so get one with holes in) but I've never been caught up by mine. I have, however, smacked it into a loose rock which could have caused damage to delicate steering arms. Some people just reinforce the bars or get something like a Dan bar to cover them. After that I'd check your sills. Do you have running steps? I bent my last set (they sit lower than the sill) but they took a pounding. I replaced them with side protector sill guards. More clearance but makes getting in and out harder (Mrs not happy about that). If you just have the little fold down steps, bin them and get some bars that run the length of the sills. Fuel cooler: I've heard of people snagging these on bits of broken wood but I've never met anyone who's actually done it It's appealing to protect it because it's low down but it's pretty well protected by the chassis.. I think it would have to be a pretty weird incident to hook them up. Still - they're cheap and light to protect. Transmission guard has to be optional. I have one. I've never hit it. I think it only adds weight. Finally, I guess you could protect the fuel tank on a 110. I've not done that but again - never hit mine and I can't quite see how that would happen under most conditions. Diffs. Steering. Sills. (then put seat covers on  ) One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS
+ New Defender 110 First Edition |
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19th Dec 2016 11:44am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8086
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ref fuel cooler and snagging wood on pipes etc.
its happened to me. i bought one and just never got around to setting up, then in early 2010 i was out setting up for an event driving a track with a load of brash on it, times were tight etc, i should of gone around! i thought, that cooler guard thing would be good here. got to end of track and found a stick wedged up in between one pipe and the chassis. it kinked the pipe but thankfully didnt break it! fitted the guard after that! Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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19th Dec 2016 4:07pm |
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| alantd Member Since: 14 Dec 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1513
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Wow! I stand corrected
Fuel cooler guard is cheap and easy to fit. Get one  One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS
+ New Defender 110 First Edition |
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19th Dec 2016 4:47pm |
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| davew Member Since: 02 Jan 2012 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 888  
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Diff guards, particularly to protect the diff pans as, compared to the rest of the diff they are relatively fragile. Personally I prefer the weld on Gwynn Lewis ones as they are cheap, tough and will never get pushed off.
Steering protection is down to personal preference, I've never used a full steering guard, preferring to use heavy duty steering bars instead. Main reasons for this are that steering guards always reduce your approach angle so make it more likely that you will hit something rather than clear it, they can act as a brake to stop you reversing, especially when they hook over rocks or a tree stump and finally, if you do break something they make repairing that item much more difficult by limiting access. I used to run a track bar guard similar to the Gwynn Lewis one but, similar to the normal steering guard, found that if you do actually break something they make repairing it an absolute bitch of a job. I snapped a track rod end off the tracking bar in the middle of a boggy forest when I landed on a tree stump. It took nearly 2 hours to replace the track bar because the ******* guard meant we had to take a front wheel off whilst the vehicle was sat on a 30 degree side slope in order to slide the bar all the way through the guard. When I got home I consigned the guard to the bin, not only had it not protected the steering (nothing would have in that case and, had the bar been able to bend perhaps the TRE wouldn't have sheared off) but it turned a 10 minute job into a 2 hour job that also increased the risk of someone being injured during the process. I carry a spare for each steering bar, without all the guards in the way I can change a bent one out for a straight one in a few minutes - it's only 2 nuts and 2 split pins after all. Fuel cooler guard makes perfect sense given the ridiculous position of it on the Puma. In summary, two simple weld on diff guards from Gwynn Lewis, a fuel cooler guard and a pair and a spare of some HD steering arms from Britpart. You cannot straighten Britpart HD bars but they are cheap enough to be considered disposable. http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/ |
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19th Dec 2016 5:15pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2657 
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I also tend to subscribe to the 'reinforce the steering, the rest will be fine' approach. I used to have diff guards and a steering guard but got rid of them in the end after getting hanked on a stump reversing which took some freeing off. The only thing I've damaged over the years has been steering rods, so I just have a Sumo Bar track rod on which can deal with knocks from ruts etc. a lot better than a standard one. I only really do greenlaning, but there are plenty of hazards on some rougher lanes.
If you're in a situation where underbody damage is likely (very rocky lane, forest, riverbed etc.) then the best form of protection is a spotter and careful driving. Plus things like waffles to take out steps/gullies etc. Now I've said all that the next time I go out I'll probably bust something! |
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19th Dec 2016 6:57pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8086
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likewise i carry spare drag link and track rod sumo bars complete with TREs in ready to go. Cheers
James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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19th Dec 2016 8:25pm |
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