Oilworker

Well, hate to say it, but there´s an alternative: My project car the "Rhino", based on a LR Defender 130CC Puma, is available as a fully armoured (STANAG3 for the chassis and STANAG2a for the underbody) long range recce vehicle. It has a bunch of other modifications and extras and a operation range of approx. 2500km (regular mix of on-/off-road). It seats 4 with an emergency seat at the rear centre. It´s airportable (underslung) and fits the internal load dimensions of the Chinook and others. The underbody armour package and the HD axles with portals are available as a seperate option, too, ready to install and build to your vehicle requirements. Delivery time from reception of order is approx. 3 months, depending on options (full vehicle). It´s doable and you don´t have to wait 200 brand new trucks to be build in the coming years, when you need a safer option now. You can even keep quite a few of your LR and Maxi Drive spares and reuse them. Just an idea....

Well, its´done, fitted and being driven....and it´s great fun, too. Some things will be changed (like trailing arms) but other than that....we´ll see. Oh, no audible noise from the straight cut gears and even after long motorway driving at 70+mph the boxes don´t really get hot. So long, Robert

Here a comparison with a regular Defender.... and a new front view....

Except for the Dresden-Breslau and Russia, me neither, but as I will be in the UK for a while, too, I was think of finally visiting that HOFS. If I may, that is....

Thanx Heath, I will check it out tonight. Looking forward to meeting Fridge´s Land Rover this year....

I guess it may just be not driving it for a while and listening too intense....Whatever...everything is fine with the CD on like always.....

Well FridgeFreezer, I guess most people just think that portals are yust for "playing"...hardly anyone expects them to be "daily drivers" @Heath: I am currently looking for a nice tank and underbody protection and that hitch is not there to stay. It´ll find it´s place in the garage together with a lot of other things

Tony, what can I say..... he actually is.... :unsure: Sorry.... I will stay out off any winch business for a while even though I actually need at least one new one for the front...I hope I wont get stuck anytime soon and as I am driving this rig over to the UK soon for some further work at different shops, maybe I´ll visit the Gigglepin shop, too....we´ll see..... For now I am enjoy the fact that I have finally got portals on one of my Defenders

Would that do for now?

Yepp, I guess we´ll do something like that in the coming weeks/months. But like this we can get it into the dirt and give her a beating....we´ll see

...and some more images of the front axle and the drop boxes....

I will have more pictures later and also some impressions from the first real test drive on- and off-road. Cool looking is one thing, but I didn´t want portals for the Saturday cruise around town so their performance in the field will be what decides about their future under my Defender....

So, it´s done! Just got back from a first drive around the block.... ...I have to get used to the new sound that´s added to my Defender and the increase in height....but it´s sooo much fun....

I have tried offroad racing and am fine with doing assistance (with the 130) or being the co-driver/navigator, which I will again do in this years´s Dresden-Breslau Rallye. My plans for the 130 will be expeditions to remote places and as far off beaten tracks as it will take me. I have two especially in mind and for those trips I wont get around portals as I need the clearance and in one of these places it´s already difficult to find 35" tires as I know from previous trips. The gearing ration for the drop box is 1.6 if I´m not mistaken and the 35" tires should almost get me where I wanted to be. Maybe I´ll go for 37" later. We´ll see. It´s still time until summer and I need a few other things for this truck first. So long, Robert

...and because curiosity is bigger than patience, we just lifted the front axle to it´s new height, placed the tyre.... ....and checked the height above ground.... 29 1/8" (74cm) ain´t bad for starters