Hello and advice please...

Hi I've been toying with the idea of a short wheel Defender for a while. I want it to tinker with, take the dog out and use occasionally for work when weathers bad.
I'd like to know what to look for or to avoid? I'm looking bottom of the pile price wise but I'll pay extra to avoid likely pitfalls. All advice appreciated.

Morning , rust is your biggest enemy, most things can be sorted reasonably cheaply. But if you need a new chassis or bulkhead it could get expensive very quickly.

Don't buy on age , go for condition.
Look at a few and you'll soon get an idea on what you can expect.

What he said

Yes, rust! Rear crossmember seems to be a vulnerable point, as do the outriggers just behind the front wheels that the bulkhead rests on. Another vulnerable point is the bulkhead itself. They're quite a time consuming job to replace as so much stuff is attached to them. Some people on here have worked wonders with rusted out bulkheads welding repair panels onto them, so they are often salvageable if you have a penchant for sheet metal welding. Mechanical parts can pretty much all be replaced by the home enthusiast, and the availability of these is usually good.