Top90

I have had two chassis off Richards. Very impressed. Would not use anyone else as the prices do not differ that much. Richard

Best: My 90 Worst: Normal headlights, as they fill up with mud/water and sealed beams don't. I've changed them back now. Richard

Check the link, it does not seem to be working.

Could do this: You may even be able to roll it back over on to its wheels in one go!

I prefer a defender to look like one, so the 90 I am working on has a tub. Richard

OK, my spelling mistake did change the context slightly. I meant buy. Richard PS. Hello John, long time no talk to.

I voted LRO, because I'm sure it has the most adverts. I only get it if I need to but something. Richard

I also prefer BFG's so pay that little bit more for them. I find them a great blend of grip, quietness and thier ability to last a long time. I have also never had a puncture in one, even when in Morocco. You can get 265/75/16 AT's for around £94 a corner if you look around. Richard

Series 2 club. We did (and possibly still do) get a discount from a supplier of series heated screens. Try the forum on http://www.series2forum.co.uk/smf_1-0-5/index.php Someone will know the company. Richard

255/85/16s are OK if you have given the TDi a little more grunt, otherwise they raise the gearing and slow down the acceleration. These are a better off road size. As you want road tyres I'd go for 265/75/16s, particularly BFG all terrains as they last for ages and are as quiet as normal pattern road tyres. Richard

Assuming its a station wagon put it in autotrader etc.. On forums you get lots of people looking for deals, asking questions and requesting photos. I have had all the above, but never a sale. I put a TD5 110 station wagon on here (old LRE forum) and got the usual reponses, put it in autotrader for the same amount and it was sold by 10am on the morning the mag came out. I'd go for 7.5k and see what happens. You can come down but never go up. Station wagon prices are similar to 90 prices. Richard

So, back to the thread topic.... Daan, Having used this system I feel you are right. For general laning and offroading days/holidays it works fine, but winch events etc.. will mean you lose too much time as it can be fiddly for rear pulls and no freespool. An Ibex system is quicker though so you may disagee, but Ed Cobley uses two winches on his Ibex. Richard

My rope does not run in any form of U channel or conduit. It runs along a series of eyelets on the chassis so access is very good and its much easier if you need to replace the plasma. It does not catch on anything as is up on the side of the chassis. To get over any problems with forces around the winch and pulleys they are all mounted on one large metal plate which has four mounting points to the rear crossmember and two to the side chassis rails. This turns the rear 2 foot of the chassis in to a very strong object. The pulleys have a layer of 5mm steel either side and are nylon (rated to 20 tons) for the plasma rope, and I have not seen any wear around the pulley area or anywhere else. Although this mounting and set up is not light at about 30KG, it does help balance a truck cab quite well. Hope this helps. Richard

Not really, its tucked away between the rear tub floor and a metal mounting plate. However I can try to describe it. I have two pulleys about 2cm apart 30cm in front of the winch drum, so the plasma rope centres between them and feeds on to the drum in the middle. Then as it fills up it works off to the sides. The more distance you put between these 'centering' pulleys and the winch drum the better it spools off to each side as the cable builds up. Although a centre mounted style winch it is actually mounted about 50cm inside the rear crossmember. Richard

I posted the thread about the system I was designing/fitting to my 90 when we were on the old LRE forum. Most people rubbished it though. You can'do this, you can't do that. Been using it for two years now. Bunching cable not a problem. Whether it will suit you depends on what you intend to do with the vehicle. If you are going to do proper challenges lack of freespool will slow you down. If you greenlane or trial you get a better aproach angle and better weight distribution. What do you want to know? Richard PS. Trev, you have a good memory.

Steve If you go for the front castor correcting arms you may well need to change the front prop as well. My 90 was fine with the extreme kit which gives about a 3" lift until I fitted the arms, then it vibrated badly until a bouble decardon prop was fitted. Now it drives great. Richard

There is also a specific manual for the R380 that should tell you anything you want to know. Have you tried ebay, someone might have copied it on to CD. Richard

I have seen some very badly made new ones, but got lucky with mine. Every panel straight and no leaks. (yet) I just hope when they do change it that a utility version is part of the line up. Richard

I am off to Croatia next year with a 110 that is currently standard. I will be fitting strengthened sills and diff/steering protectors. Any sugestions on what else may be needed. I'd rather take the 90 but with a rollcage/truck cab there is no loadspace, plus the 110 should be more reliable. Cheers Richard

A well proven older vehicle is normally better than one someone has sold. With nearly every second hand Land Rover I've bought there has been some teething problems. When are you going? I am going over easter. Richard

Thought the 110 might be suitable as it was previously mine. I had to sell it when a company car (new 110) arrived, but it had no problems. The clutch had a judder so a new gearbox shaft, clutch kit, master and slave cylinders were fitted to make sure it was cured. This was done about two months before it went. It would be interesting to know what the insurance company think. Mine did not care as catagory D is the lowest level of damage classification that includes stolen/ recovered. Happy hunting Richard

Still on the website, plus has spots, A bar and Ali steering guard

Foleys had a 1997 P reg 110 CSW for £5,995. They may still have it. Registered cat D but a lot of motor for the money and only has about 110 -120 on the clock. Plus its a county. I know the vehicle, and it had a new clutch and other parts just before they got it. Richard

Simonr thanks for the info, it has given me a lot to think about. This is definately the way I want to go. Thanks again. Richard

Basically want it for challenge use to go with my portal axles. That way I can lean it over on to punches, raise the rear for driving off large rocks etc... Was hoping to find a kit in the UK, otherwise I may have to look over in the USA. I was not that worried about punctures. Just thought truck air bags would be longer and give more suspension travel. How long can a P38 air bag extend to? And how much can it compress to? Thanks Richard