As a Land Rover fanatic and someone who has always loved the outdoors I find myself drawn to an expedition. There is no doubt in my mind that it has to be a Land Rover but I really like the Range Rover. The first Land Rover was built by two brothers in 1947, it was a design based on a willys jeep, the Rover Group acquired the design and by 1948 Land Rover was born. I am not sure of the history after this point but it is fair to say that by the 60’s Land Rover was a well established company producing rugged and very capable vehicles for farmers all over the UK. They have never looked back and continue to build some of the best 4×4’s for farmers, the military, peace/aid workers and those who enjoy the freedom that only a 4×4 can give.
Land Rover launched Range Rover in 1970 and it excelled in every way selling far better then expected, on and off road performance was outstanding. It could deal with almost anything thrown at it and soon became an icon finding it’s way into homes with farmers and also the famous as a status symbol. The Range Rover has come a long way from the original 3door estate which was only available with a 3.5l v8 capable of producing 90BHP and a top road speed of 95MPH. The latest models have a range of engines including in line 6 diesels and large displacement v8s and the standard equipment list is impressive, full spec has more toys than anyone could ever want. The off road capabilities are extraordinary and road handling is now closer to a large car. For an extreme off road expedition vehicle there is in my opinion only one choice and that would be the classic, produced between 1970 and 1994 with the later models having a 4.6 litre V8 engine and air suspension.
As a result of these changed I would avoid taking one of the later models. The Range Rovers produced during the mid 80’s with a 3.5efi engine and standard springs and shocks seems to be the best choice. Built on a tried and tested box section chassis and a choice between manual and auto gear boxes, the engines are remarkably robust and if looked after the auto box will last forever. Combine this with spacious interiors, electric windows, air-con, arm rests and you have a very capable comfortable vehicle. It must be said at this point that there are some flaws with the classic Range Rover, for example rust, this is a killer for many a Land Rover. The steel chassis, bulkheads, and tailgates are all prone. The reaction that results when steel and aluminium come together can also present itself, but this is minimal. And if caught early none of the above is threatening to the life of a classic. It is not unusual for some of the auto boxes to hold 1st when cold, but there is a cure available for this and not a big problem. The larger 3.9 litre engine was introduced in 1989 and after 100,000 miles the block can become porous causing mayhem with the cooling system much like a defective head gadget.
As for expedition kit, if it is available for a defender then you can get it for a classic, everything from winch bumpers and sump guards to full roll cages and extreme suspension kits. Many would say that there is only one Land Rover to take on an expedition and that it would be a Defender. I would be inclined to agree with this. The Defender is designed to be nothing but a work horse, with emphasis on off road abilities making it the perfect expedition vehicle, however this I feel is also the downfall of the Defender, there is very little comfort. It is very common to find a Defender driver with one arm out of the window, this is due to the lack of space inside. There is no sound proofing and the heating and ventilation system leaves much to be desired. This can all add up to make a long trip uncomfortable, making you feel irritable and tired. Other problems can be found during the winter, again the heating system really struggles to even clear the windscreen let alone defrost it. Some of the lines found on a Defender allow water to sit and freeze, this can jam the windows and door locks. Of course this is a problem on any vehicle but the door locks do seam to be somewhat prone to this on the Defender.
Most classic Range Rovers come with a 4 speed auto box which some will say is a bad idea for off road use. Others will say that its a good idea. Having driven both types of gear box I can honestly say I don’t think there is much difference, they both have flaws and they both have good points. For example an auto box will always be in the right gear, there is also no clutch to wear out and seamless gear changes will avoid deceleration between shifts. A manual box can offer greater control for extremely slow manoeuvres using the clutch. Also you can pull off using 2nd or 3rd gear on more slippery surfaces. The less complicated engineering will provide inherently greater reliability but during the years I have been driving, I have had a manual box lose reverse gear and need replacing, but for the 4 years I have had an auto box, I had no problems at all.
Looking at the spare parts needed on an expedition, for a manual I would recommend taking clutch fluid and service kits for slave and master cylinders and for an auto I would take fluid and some extra filters.
Well now lets hear the Defender argument:
Well as we can see the Range rover buff is up on his Landy history, and it is interesting that you should mention peace/aid workers, here is a useless fact for you, the very first vehicle that over 40% of the worlds population ever saw was Land Rover bringing a whole new meaning to “the freedom that only a 4×4 can give”.
I would agree that when launched in 1970 the Range Rover was a fair off road contender for the Land Rover. However from the outset these vehicles were designed with 2 completely different markets in mind. As time has moved on the development of these 2 vehicles has moved in very different directions. The Land Rover was first and foremost designed as a go anywhere utility vehicle, luxury was kept to a minimum to allow for larger load spaces, simplicity and easy maintenance. Whereas when Range Rover designs began in the 1960’s it was predominantly aimed at the leisure market as a passenger carrying vehicle. It sported the newly acquired v8 showing that it had more emphasis on speed and road handling than off road performance.
For an extreme off road vehicle there is in my opinion only one choice and that would be a Land Rover Defender. They have been produced from the early 1980’s through to the present day and have gone from strength to strength. Early models came with the options of 2.5 litre turbo diesel or the Rover v8 engine, then moved on to the more well known 200tdi and than the 300tdi. The more modern and more powerful BMW td5 engine took us from 1999 up to 2007.
The diesel Defenders have always proved to be more popular due to better fuel economy and reliability. Personally though it would be a toss up between a 300tdi and a td5. The 300tdi was the last Land Rover to be made which was not dependant on an engine management system, therefore it can be fixed by any mechanic anywhere, a very sort after quality for a long distance expedition. The td5 gives you better fuel economy and better torque and top speed due to its ECU. However you are going to have problems if you have ECU trouble in the middle of the African desert.
As for the comfort argument I have to say I think Range Rover drivers are just being fussy as I have done nearly 8000km across Africa in my defender last year and did not experience any discomfort at all.
However I would not say that the Defender is without fault. The one major design flaw we found would be that most expedition equipment for a Land Rover is designed to be added to a roof rack making a fairly unstable vehicle rather precarious to drive when fully loaded with diesel and water supplies across rough terrain. Not to mention all the leaks and rattles but that goes without saying…
But despite that it’s got character, it’s capable of pretty much anything you through at it and until you own one I can’t ask you to understand.
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