[Crystal-clear]

Lets get some photos up I think a pickup looks profesional as much as a van does!

[formb]

[Crystal-clear]

Looks amazing how has it been set up I think a vid is needed !

[formb]

No videos yet I'm afraid 

[Crystal-clear]

Looks very profesional how much water does it hold how much did it set you back ?

[formb]

450L

We only use Td5 (1999 - 2006) Land Rovers as these are the best. You can get them for anywhere between £2500 for a rust bucket to £10,000 for a cracker. Ex Hydro board 110s are a good option as they are Land Rover factory 'Special Vehicles' and come with beefed up suspension and side lockers, they tend to have high mileage but are well maintained.

We have bought MOT failures that needed loads of work to get them up to scratch and we have bought low mileage / well looked after Landys too. Depending on the state / type of the vehicle it can take us between 2 weeks and 2 months get the Landy stripped out and the system installed.

It is difficult to put a price tag on them as the vehicle that you start with will determine the labour needed and therefore the price, Defender 110s come in many different variations, truck cabs, hard tops, Special Vehicles etc, and are often modified. I could probably source and build you a good one for £10,000. I could definitely source and build you an excellent one for £15,000. The thing to remember is that correctly maintained Defenders will easily outlast a van 2 or 3 times over.

The Landys are 2 man double DI set up, element heated and would come with a full 1 year MOT, WaxOyl rust proofing on the chassis, full re-spray any colour, brand new wheels and tyres (the tyres we fit are high weight rated) and would be newly serviced (all fluids, filters and belts replaced). We can also do any customisation that you might require.

[tompoole]

I love landys but unless you need a 4x4 if you've got 10-15k to spend on work truck
Then A van will cost way less to run than a defender.
That budget gets you a new van with 4 year warranty
And a sell on value will be more than a bespoke wfp defender.
Soupy it's a great truck though, if I only had one car
Then a pickup or defender double cab is the way I'd go.

[roundbuilder]

Surely any van/4x4 will last if looked after that 1 sure does look the nuts you have soupy, im not in the know about them at all! how many miles do those defenders happily manage in there lifetime from new to death??.

[Crystal-clear]

Souppy it looks amazing I'm guessing its really easy to use get out van no taking hose reel off all mounted up could you give us a bit more info on how you set it up it looks really secure and professionally set up, so you provide this service also good to know what's the labour breakdown etc?

[formb]

Don't get me wrong. I am not trying to say that getting a Defender from us will save you money. It certainly isn't the cheapest option. Like everything else there are upsides and downsides.

Going down this route is not a decision to be taken lightly. It is a very different prospect to buying a van, where you'd probably be looking to replace it in 5 years. A Land Rover is for life not just for Christmas. Also you can't have a Defender and not be prepared to get your paws oily from time to time. They are far easier to work on than a car or a van though, with a fantastic online community who are very knowledgeable and always helpful.

If you look after them properly Land Rovers will just keep going. I have a 1980 Series 3 that has done well over 300k. When was the last time you saw a 1980 transit? 1985 that's when. We have done work on Land Rovers built in the 50s! I have heard it said that 75% of all Defenders produced (including the older series vehicles) since 1955 are still on the road. Quite incredible if its true.

The oldest Defender I have is 1999, granted if I wanted to sell it to anyone besides a window cleaner I would need to rebuild the rear end but I don't want to sell it. Why would I? It is pretty much the same truck as my newest one (2005), which will be getting converted in the coming weeks.

The highest mileage Defender I have has 220k on the clock. I'd be lying if I said it was completely problem free but I'd be willing to bet that it is still on the go long after any of the L200s or vans that you guys run around in have been squashed and turned into skips.

The design and positioning of the reels is, in my humble opinion, to put it bluntly, brilliant. They are at the perfect height for reeling in and are ready to pull out in any direction within 2 seconds of parking up. The reels really make a difference to productivity, I am not about to say 'our lads do x amount a day / hour / week' I find those posts tedious, but if you fancied a wee trip to Scotland I'd happily show you.

Apologies if I have been rambling, I had a mate's head wetting last night, I may still be a bit boozy.

[Crystal-clear]

Wow cheers
Looks like you are the man to speak to regarding pick up conversations!
I do love what you have done my initial idea was to combine a black kick ass looking pickup or 4x4 (x5 if possible lol) to have both bussniess and the odd personal use rather then having 2 seperate I looked at l200 cos it looks good , but your defender seems the most practical on how I have read, and maybe the easiest I'm looking to spend around £4000,00 aprox on my new kick ass 4x4 didn't think too much about system was going to chuck my custom in from van but depending how much it could set me back if its in amazingly then maybe too

[formb]

To be honest our defenders are not ideal as dual use vehicles. Something like your L200s or Ford rangers would be more suitable if wanted something you could use as an everyday run around. The main issue being that there are only 2 seats, 3 at a push.

You get Defenders (110 csw) with more seats that would be better suited but they aren't cheap, you could get one for £4k but you'd get more car for your money if you bought a L200.

[roundbuilder]

Are those freelander van style 4x4 any good?? Seen a few of those about.

[andyM]

For £4000 you would only get a high miler or nothing newer than around a 9 year old + L200.
That would be a gamble as to what you would end up with, and you might need deep pockets.

[formb]

Gaylanders Freelanders are fairly terrible. You can get good ones (must be Td4, must be 2007 or newer) but generally I'd have to say avoid.

Having said that the wife has a Gaylander Freelander, she loves it.  

[formb]

For £4000 you would only get a high miler or nothing newer than around a 9 year old + L200.
That would be a gamble as to what you would end up with, and you might need deep pockets.

As above with a 110 csw but more like 20+ year old

[Crystal-clear]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=200957461270
 
£3.6k black 2005 don't know mileage
But I feel ill get one around that year with under 80k

[roundbuilder]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=200957461270
 
£3.6k black 2005 don't know mileage
But I feel ill get one around that year with under 80k

That shape looks so dated now though, althogh still a lot of car for money.
Id love a barbarian but way way way to much for a work motor.

[Crystal-clear]

The new shape doesn't look that good , wouldn't pay silly money I'd be happy with this looks great

[formb]

Looks good (as far as Japanese 4x4s go).