Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2024 i Land Rover Monthly

HARRY Metcalfe (the YouTuber) and my good pal Tim both had a decision to make recently, because they have Range Rovers that are coming to the end of their leases. I suspect it was Harry who influenced Tim’s thinking, rather than the other way round, because I doubt that Harry knows Tim, whereas Harry’s eponymous YouTube channel is, erm, rather big! I might have also had something to do with Tim’s decision, because I told him about one of Harry’s recent videos, which has so far been watched 1.2 million times, in which Harry explains why he’s dumped his out-of-contract Range Rover PHEV and replaced it with a Range Rover Sport D300. Since the youngest Land Rover in my fleet was made in 1997, and my Range Rover daily driver…

LIKE anything in life, experience counts for a lot. You can research, read, scour the internet in search of answers to questions on any subject, but nothing beats getting out there and doing whatever it is you want to be good at for yourself, learning and honing along the way. This is exactly why we got in touch with the guys at Defender Campers for a run-down on what type of sleeping arrangement might be best for you when planning to go on an adventure – the company’s fleet of Land Rovers has been fine-tuned for use by anyone to jump in and enjoy with as little fuss as possible, from complete camping novices to those who spend almost every weekend out exploring somewhere new. While they’re all Td5-powered Defender 110s,…

THE day that rolled around for our UK 4x4 Fundraisers event was one of those mild, balmy days, the kind on which you regret wearing a jumper, and wish you had bought a vehicle with air conditioning that delivered cold air with more vigour than a sloth’s breath. Late last year, ten teams met at the Norfolk seaside town of Wells-next-the-Sea ready for the off on a 450-mile journey across the UK in a variety of 4x4s raising money for The CALMZone, a mental health charity. Competitors would navigate from Wells to the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula via as many greenlanes as possible and stopping to complete various challenges to win points, all whilst attempting this year’s fiendishly difficult driving quiz. The challenges however, started the day before. Whilst…

1984 NINETY CSW 4C Mileage: 56,827 Power: 80bhp Torque: 129lb-ft MPG: 21mpg DESPITE having had this Ninety hovering around in my life for six years I’ve never actually formally introduced it to these pages, possibly because I’m a little embarrassed about the lack of exercise it gets. But I can’t put it off any longer – here is B168 SFH and it’s one of my favourite things in the world. It came into my life via Barnard Senior. He had been making excuses to avoid collecting logs from a tree I’d chopped down in the garden, which was odd as he was usually straight into his Series IIA and trailer as soon as he heard the buzz of a chainsaw. Such is the way when you have a log burner…

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lrmtechnical@gmail.com 17 PAGES OF TOP LRM EXPERT ADVICE THIS month we explain a couple of common and worthwhile jobs: removing the transmission from a Td5 to effect essential routine repair work between the gearbox and engine, and replacing tired leaf springs on a Series III. The common denominator here is the opportunity to get things wrong and give yourself a serious injury. You’ll see both tasks have been completed on a vehicle lift. Few of us have that luxury, but it’s a reasonable proposition to change Series III springs with the vehicle on the workshop floor, albeit with precautions. And, as we know, it’s also possible to manoeuvre early utility truck transmissions upwards and out through the cab with the vehicle on the floor. But the removal of Td5 transmissions…

What goes wrong with standard springs? Overloading and long-term use can cause spring leaves (including parabolics) to crack, often close to or around the forward mounting points. Because standard-type leaves are closely packed, their surfaces need to move against each other as the spring flexes, but rust building up between the leaves can restrict movement and, in severe cases, the build-up of rust can force the leaves apart, eventually deforming the spring clamps. Cracked or rust-blown springs need to be replaced and, while it is possible to have individual leaves renewed, in reality we’d just go for a complete new spring, and we’d always replace them in axle pairs. Rust blown Tired and neglected leaf springs rust between the leaves, forcing them apart and expanding the steel clamp that should…

The UK reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with the handover of 60 tonnes of Land Rover spare parts and tyres. This contribution, comprising 225 engines, 737 new tyres and essential Land Rover spare parts is worth £2 million, and will facilitate the servicing, repairs and maintenance of over 440 military vehicles. This package follows another donation of Land Rover spares worth more than £400,000 to the LAF through the UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, handed over in May last year. Underlining the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the LAF in its efforts to maintain stability and security, the British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, who oversaw the handover, said: “I am proud the UK is able to contribute to the Lebanese Armed Forces’ resilience…

LRP CB AERIAL €24 (£22) Contact: landroverpassion.com This simple bracket allows you to fit a CB antenna to your Discovery 3 or 4 or Range Rover L322 without any fuss. Manufactured from 2mm-thick stainless steel, it sandwiches between the upper tailgate striker and the body and is held in place with the existing screws, meaning you don’t have to drill any holes in the bodywork and you get a good groundplane. The product shown is the L322 version. DOG BED £930 Contact: defenderreartubsltd.com We know dogs love joining us on travels in our Land Rovers, so why not give them their very own Land Rover bed? Made from 2mm aluminium, the same as the standard replacement tubs, the bed can be painted to your choice of Land Rover colour, and…

MY Lightweight is gloriously, and finally, back on the road. It’s not perfect – the dash lights now don’t work and (very annoyingly) neither does the choke light, for which I brokered a discount – but I was as happy to get it out of the Hemel Hempstead garage as they probably were to see the back of us both. It’s wonderful to be back behind the wheel and bliss to have functioning indicators. I had become so accustomed to hand-signalling that indicators feel like an upgrade, rather than an essential basic vehicle component. As I’m jumping at any opportunity for even the shortest drive, what better time to attend a Land Rover meet-up in Central London? I’d seen these guys out last summer but had forgotten about them until…

SOME of the most interesting stories about Land Rovers often come to light by chance, just like this one, although in this case it was my wife Fiona who made the connection, spotting what she thought was an interesting vehicle in the gym car park. “It was definitely a One Ten,” she revealed confidently when she got home, “but it had the biggest and chunkiest roof rack I’ve ever seen. I took a couple of photos of it for you.” She handed over her phone and there it was, looming large in the sluicing rain and barely visible under the dim streetlamps. It seemed to be painted in an almost stealth-like matt grey that wouldn’t look out of place on a battleship and yes, it definitely had something very substantial…

OFF GRID CAMP is a network of more than 150 exclusive locations across the UK, offering somewhere wilder to camp. It has been designed by fellow overlanding enthusiasts, tailored for off-road capable, fully self sufficient, leave-no-trace lovers of adventure. Within this network, Off Grid Camp offers secluded camping experiences in some of the UK’s most remote and wild locations. Through direct collaboration with farmers and landowners willing to share the wilder corners of their land, Off Grid Camp members can enjoy peace of mind without the fear of being moved on, while supporting local communities. The locations span the UK, including Cumbrian fells, remote valleys, coastal clifftops, vast Scottish estates, and isolated islands. Accessing many of these sites requires a capable 4x4 vehicle due to their remote locations. Whether navigating…

DEFENDER 130 TIPPER MAZDA 3.5 SLTI DIESEL AUTOMATIC Mileage: 32,991 Power: 135bhp Torque: 260lb-ft MPG: 21 (fully loaded) INDING my own business in the workshop one rainy morning, a man kitted out in logging gear arrived at my door. He was working on felling a big oak tree in my neighbour’s garden and wanted to know if it was okay to drop some branches on my side of the hedge. He promised to pick everything up in due course. My response was to drop anything that he wanted, but that I would pick it up – I need the firewood! My friend Bruce and I have lately been working on building up our individual stocks of firewood. There was a large tree in my own garden that had to go,…

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EVER heard a Td5-powered Land Rover start from cold, and instantly fill the air with a loud wailing, screeching noise? If you’ve encountered a Defender or Discovery 2 with a failing spigot bush, you’ll know exactly the sound we’re talking about. The part that causes this horrendous squeal is a small metal ‘oilite’ bushing, called the spigot bush, and its job is to keep the gearbox’s mainshaft perfectly centred in the middle of the engine’s crankshaft at all times. When it becomes worn, the gearbox shaft can move slightly inside the bush, causing the ear-piercing squeal and, in some cases, clutch judder when pulling away from a standstill. In order to change this pesky bushing (a part that costs less than £4) the gearbox needs to be removed. If you…

LEAF springs were fitted to utility Land Rovers until the launch of the coil-sprung Ninety and One Ten in the early 1980s. They were the most common type of suspension on cars until the late 1970s and are still fitted on many 4x4s today. However, some owners feel the standard leaf springs fitted to Series Land Roves are not the best when it comes to comfort and off-road ability; others would not agree. The most popular option to standard off-the-shelf replacement leaf springs or even specialist-made leaf springs, is to fit parabolic leaf springs. A basic leaf spring is in the form of an arc, shaped from differing lengths of spring steel, held together along their lengths by a centre bolt and various clips. Parabolic springs differ from the standard…

Cambridgeshire-based independent Land Rover specialist Nene Overland has launched a brand new website for its upmarket sister brand, Rivolve. Operating from its Peterborough and East Cotswolds sites and aiming firmly at the more luxurious end of the market, Rivolve aims to assist clients who lean more towards the lifestyle-focussed side of Defender ownership. “As classic Defender prices rise, these cars are firmly becoming cherished second, third or even fourth cars to people. These clients want something more refined, reliable and stylish that’s individual to them.” said Andrew Harrison-Smith, the founder of Nene Overland and Rivolve. “We’ve built countless vehicles for every pursuit imaginable over the last 35 years and feel passionate about sharing our knowledge and experience in order to benefit our customers.” Rivolve sets out six core editions on…

National Luna fridge & fridge-freezer range If you’re searching for a top-notch fridge for your next adventure, National Luna is a renowned market-leading brand, offering a range of products to suit everyone. Originally used as vaccine refrigerators in remote locations, the National Luna range of portable camping and mobile fridges has been optimised over 30 years for 4×4 and recreational use. The National Luna range is available to buy, along with a huge choice of adventure essentials from over 80 brands, from APB Trading’s website: www.expedition-equipment.com National Luna 20-litre fridge RRP: £279 For an economic option, the 20-litre fridge is not just compact in size but also cost-effective for the average camper or for the serious Land Rover enthusiast as a second fridge. It comes with 3-year warranty, a digital…

AFTER over 20 years of faultless operation, the gearbox in my Series IIA V8 has finally broken. I don’t begrudge it one bit, it has done incredibly well and I have always enjoyed telling the naysayers that yes, you can indeed run a Rover V8 with an original IIA transmission. Contrary to popular belief, the set-up works really well and you actually aren’t forever changing gearboxes. I am not yet sure what’s happened to mine, but there is a very nasty sound in first gear. When I get a chance, I will be limping the Land Rover to my workshop and draining the oil to check for chunks of metal, before removal and sending it on its way to be rebuilt by my gearbox guru. Removal and refitting of the…

OFTEN when we at Land Rover Monthly go to photograph a Land Rover for an article, we turn up to find it freshly washed and polished, with the glass gleaming, seats and floors vacuumed and cleaned and any items inside taken out or tucked away in the cubby box. When we arrived to get the lowdown on this very special 110, however, that was not the case – far from it. Sure, it’s been pressure-washed and the tyres have had a bit of slick sprayed on, but open the doors and there’s a coating of red dust under the mats, the side lockers have dirty tow straps in, and there’s all sorts of bits and pieces floating around the cabin that would normally be taken out before a camera goes…

IF you had the choice, which would you like to own? An early Stage 2 One Ten powered by a 3.5 V8, or a unique V8 BIRST MWP Fast Strike Vehicle? They are, of course, actually one and the same, because it was the One Ten that was turned into the MWP. It is a fascinating vehicle that its makers clearly hoped would be a commercial success, but it was not to be. As far as that One Ten V8 is concerned, the story goes back to 27 March 1984, which is the day it came off the production line at Solihull. It was delivered to Marshall of Cambridge three days later. The records at the British Motor Museum reveal that it was a basic truck cab soft top or…

OUR journey began full of excitement; after three years of planning and transforming our Defender into an overland camper with just our own hands, we hit the road, embarking on the adventure we’d dreamt of for so long. Full of enthusiasm, we set out to explore the world, relax in dream places and drive remote trails. But then, only three months after we set off on our world tour, our dream teetered on the brink of collapse. In one short moment, everything changed – our 27-year-old Defender 110 slipped off the track, tumbled down a slope, and rolled over. Our world was literally turned upside down, leaving us disoriented and unsure what the next steps were. Was our dream about to end so shortly after it had just begun? Did…

MY son, Eddie, is Land Rover mad. He’s turning eight in May, and has come to love Land Rovers and everything about them over the years, which I’m hugely proud of as a father and fellow Land Rover nut. It’s really encouraging to see the younger generation carrying on the enthusiasm for these vehicles and the great adventures they take us on. Eddie’s story with Land Rovers started with me, and my story with Land Rovers started with my uncle, so it’s fair to say the passion runs in the family. Eddie first became interested in them at the age of around three or four, when he cast eyes upon some old photos of my first Landy, a Series IIA Lightweight, and asking about others thereafter – of which there…

WITH the stunning backdrop of the Malvern Hills behind an action-packed event rammed with Land Rover goodness, it’s the ideal opportunity to dust off your camping gear, get a barbecue going and have an amazing time with friends and family. Camping for the weekend really is the best way to take in all the sights and sounds of the event, letting you soak up the evening atmosphere and enjoy a few cold ones in the beer tent while the bands play. Head to landrovermonthly.co.uk/events to book your tickets. In the meantime, here are some of our top tips for having a great time camping, wherever you are. 1 STAY WARM If you’re cold (which hopefully you won’t be at LRM Live) camping can be a miserable experience. Make sure you…

FITTING parabolic springs to Series I, II and III models has always been a controversial issue. A recently important part of the controversy is that because they were never fitted as standard, they detract from originality. And in addition to obvious differences in appearance and construction, the two types give different ride and handling characteristics. The Spanish company, Santana, known for its own versions of Land Rovers, fitted parabolic springs as standard to its Series III models, claiming them to give superior performance. My own view is that original-type springs in good condition give the best compromise of ride, handling and load capability, while parabolics give improved ride comfort and – importantly for off-road driving – increased axle articulation. Whether fitting parabolic or standard springs, it’s important to buy from…

IN-CAR technology has moved on from medium and long wave radios, tapes and CDs, to now incorporate sat nav, hands-free calls, music streaming and more. We’ve all got used to instant connectivity in modern cars, but is there a way to get that into a Defender? Thankfully, there are several ways to solve the problem, but one of the most effective comes in the form of a double DIN head unit. The DIN refers to the standard radio/CD size and double means literally that; it is twice as tall, which permits a larger screen to be used. So, gone are the minute buttons and garish flashing lights of cheap aftermarket radios. With a larger dash footprint, a touchscreen permits a smartphone system to be employed. This permits full connectivity with…

April 25-29 TIME, TYRO, RTV AND CCV TRIALS Newnham, Devon cdlrc.com April 26-28 COAST TO COAST ADVENTURE TOUR Ravenglass, West Cumbria trailsandtracks.co.uk April 27 PEAK DISTRICT LAND ROVER TOUR Ringinglow, Sheffield, South Yorkshire uklandroverevents.com April 27 - 28 COMP SAFARI Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland norc.org.uk JUNIOR TRIAL AND PROMOTIONAL EVENT Billing, Northamptonshire info@muddyduck.org.uk April 28 SERIES I MEET Skipton, North Yorkshire embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk TYRO AND CCV TRIALS Llanarmon-yn-lal, Wales nwlrc.co.uk CLUB PLAY DAY Mannington, Dorset sadlrc.com April 30 TRIAL Middleton Top, Derbyshire panddlrc.uk 4X4 PAY AND PLAY DAY Whitworth, Rochdale, Lancashire cowmleisure.com May 3-5 GLOBAL GATHERING AND WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT Market Harborough, Leicestershire lrgg.co.uk May 3-6 CAMPING WEEKEND, TYRO TRIAL AND GREENLANING Heslington, Kendal, Cumbria bflrc.org.uk BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND EVENT Stainby, Lincs nottslrc.co.uk May 4-5 GAYDON LAND ROVER SHOW British Motor…