Just bought my first Land Rover 130 and I think I may need some help.

Hi folks, this is my first post and as I’ve also just bought my first ever Land Rover - a Defender 130, I thought that I would introduce myself and say hello
I am currently driving a VW T5 which I have converted to a camper. It was a bit of a labour of love, but I finished it about 18 months ago (and it’s up for sale if anyone is interested). The trouble is that I wanted something that was a bit more off road capable, hence the 130.

The plan is to put a demountable camper on the back and do some touring. It’s an ex-utility vehicle and has a large box on the back which I need to take off and replace with standard HCPU tub. Good luck with that, I hear you all saying, and they do seem to be like the proverbial rocking horse poop. I have looked all around and have been doing for some time, but to no avail, apart for some priced at silly money. I don’t suppose anyone knows where I might be able to get one from do they?

Failing that I could get a 110 HCPU tub and fit that instead. As far as I know, the only difference is that it is longer than the 130, and some of the mounting bracket’s are different underneath. I’m hoping I can chop the front end off and get some different brackets to make it all fit. Has anyone had any experience with this at all?

Anyway, I will be posting the progress as it goes along so watch this space and if anyone can help me out here, I would be very grateful.
Bradders130

Hello and welcome to LZ

Hi and welcome!

Have you considered a 4x4 VW van? It’ll be much more civilised than the defender and probably better on fuel too. Defenders are becoming a real theft risk, which as far as I know, VW’s aren’t. Could you get your T5 converted to 4x4? The 130, and to a degree the 110, are long vehicles with poor turning circles. And if you haven’t driven a Defender, make sure you do as they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. But if you have and you do like them, they’re great!

I can’t help with the demountable camper questions. However, they’re quite popular in Europe so the answers will be out there somewhere.

Welcome..
I hope you can find parking spaces for that large boat I have been out with a few off road & we had some fun & they were good.

Yes you can fit a 110 rear tub for a 130… you just need to chop a bit out the front for it To fit. Think 10” now this is not a hard job but there are many layers to a HCPU rear.
Fixings are the same.
Take rear box off. Fix some wheel arches & wood base to save some time

can you not make some air rams for the corners of the rear pod to unmount?

Knappster said:

Hi and welcome!

Have you considered a 4x4 VW van? It’ll be much more civilised than the defender and probably better on fuel too. Defenders are becoming a real theft risk, which as far as I know, VW’s aren’t. Could you get your T5 converted to 4x4? The 130, and to a degree the 110, are long vehicles with poor turning circles. And if you haven’t driven a Defender, make sure you do as they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. But if you have and you do like them, they’re great!

I can’t help with the demountable camper questions. However, they’re quite popular in Europe so the answers will be out there somewhere.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome and the advice Knappster.
the van is 4motion, but doesn’t have diff lock and there is no chance of fitting that retrospectively, which is a shame.
I know what you mean about the poor turning circle though. When I drove the one I’ve just bought a couple of days ago, I did notice that in the slow speed corners it suddenly changed into a barge! But being a 2012, it is slightly more civilised and more wife acceptable, if you know what I mean.

Hicap phill said:

Welcome..
I hope you can find parking spaces for that large boat I have been out with a few off road & we had some fun & they were good.

Yes you can fit a 110 rear tub for a 130… you just need to chop a bit out the front for it To fit. Think 10” now this is not a hard job but there are many layers to a HCPU rear.
Fixings are the same.
Take rear box off. Fix some wheel arches & wood base to save some time

can you not make some air rams for the corners of the rear pod to unmount?

Click to expand...

Hi Hicap Phill,
Thanks for your welcome.
The wood base sounds interesting, can you explain exactly what you mean.
The demountable camper is on jacks at each corner. Should be easy to remove it using them and once it’s clear of the vehicle body, you just drive the Landy away, leaving the camper behind. It’s a great set up.
I’m going to sell the box for whatever I can get. It’s got loads of racking in it and is an ex BT utility vehicle. It actually looks in quite good nick, but I don’t know what sort of market there is for it.
It’s going to be a well interesting project.

Look at the lines of the rear body & try to make the same. But mount onto a base that sits onto the rear member & goes onto the body mounts at the front
Attach 2 wheel arches
Have a look through this thread makes a good read & plenty of ideas

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/flat-bed-disco-2-project.370997/

Thanks for that Hicap Phill I will have a look at the link and let you know how I get on. cheers

brianp38dse said:

Hello and welcome to LZ

Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome brianp38dse

Welcome to the forum

Thanks for the welcome Hippo