Graham Thomson

Picked up the truck yesterday lunch from the Mud UK guys in Hebden Bridge, drove the 30-odd miles home. Went out about an hour later in very miserable dark skies to the local shop, and about 5 minutes after I returned my neighbour rapped on the door to tell me I'd left my lights on. I went out to switch them off and lo! the front nearside tyre was absolutely flat as a pancake. Must have lost all of its' air very quickly.... No time to change it last night, got it jacked on a trolley today and fitted the spare. There doesn't seem to be any damage to the tyre, but the valve is very loose........I feel a bit lucky to be honest, had it decided to deflate while moving............ As for the Mud Uk bit, it's a work in progress....looking better already and I'll do some pictires when the job is complete. It's going to be into August though.

My nice creamy white wheels have rust in the middle............just where the wheel nuts attach. What's the best way to treat them?

At the moment the holes are letting a great waft of hot air into the cab!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok sounds good............but remember that I am the greenest of green-laners, my underslung LPG lungs mean I don't quite get the same ground clearance, and no deep water!!! cause the floor leaks like a sieve!!!

Hey Dougie, I have most definitely not taken any offence.... And I might well take you up on your offer, got to get the beast off road sometime, bumping over a pavement isn't a qualifying event.... I'm surrendering the truck tomorrow for a week, while the guys at mudstuff do a bit of a rebuild on my dash!!

That's a fair summary...........

Sat for 40 minutes in stationary traffic on the M67 today........noticed the oil warning light flicker. Got home and checked the oil......it was bone dry, and I mean bone dry gobi desert class in a drought. She isnt leaking oil anywhere.......i dont think so anyway.....cant say I've noticed that she's burning it either, she was serviced about 3500 miles ago and had full oil change then... My mate had a slack gallon of some economy 20/50, so she got fed that. Running somewhat smoother now (funny that!).

Duly purchased and on its way!

Steve, I had a good look at that device........two things....it is quite small and doesnt tart up what I have (which is a very very plain and dull dashboard....), also, it required a bit of user interaction, which might not always be the best thing while driving....oh and a third thing, the guages I've got add some nice blue ligh to the dash. Hey ho - it might end up looking like a Land Rover with built-in Trat's Boudoir!!

Propoed layout for dash below. All gauges to be new except odometer and fuel. Plus replacing the lower half of the dash with one that doesn't have a great hole hacked out if it for the radio, fitting a new radio underneath this too. And hopefully all being done by those nice mudstuff people next week. (Can't have a Mud Console - my dash is not the correct type.) What do you think?

Ok, this Si chap seems to get some good press, so I will probably go there. But does the kit include an isolator switch to allow for use when the vehicle engine is off (at campsite etc?)...

Finally had a look at the fuses.......over the years all seem to have been replaced with slightly higher rated ones! (although I suspect that the various owners just put in what they had to hand!!). Anyway, the 10amp fuse I removed looked absolutely fine, so no joy there. Must be a wiring problem! Hmmph!

And how clever do I have to be with the wiring? Whats the clever way to wire it to the existing battery, so that if the engine is running the alternator is charging both, and if the engine is off, additional devices are only drawing power from the leisure battery.....and can I get both batteries under the passenger seat?

If I buy a leisure battery.....is there any that you guys would recommend, also with an indication of price please, since I dont want to spend silly money...

If i fit a second "Leisure" battery, can I put the isolator on a normal dashboard switch??

Oh joy of joys!!!! Cheers Steve

When I access the front page of the defender forum, I'm no longer presented with the 'number of pages' bit next to each post. and then when I click on a post, it displays like the picture shown below, which is pants for browsing - how can I get it to display the old way please????is.........

I know I know - and actually I havent looked at the fuse yet - just been too damn busy!! Will try to get to it tonight.

Put the original wheel back - 4 minutes to change!!!! - what joy!

Anyone got one - any good, much fun or what? Also, does anyone know where I can get one that isnt dash top mounted, but rather screws to the front of the dash? Might be looking for summat as rare as rocking horse pooh, I fear...........

Anyone know what the parts are called that fit under the driver and passenger doors, the piece of metal that has the rubber door seals riveted to it? And how easy are they to rip out / replace? (Cause the ones I have have serious tinworm ).

Ok changed it - dead easy - just a little heaving and straining. Tightened the nut up and the new wheel has made the steering very stiff - drove it 58 miles this morning - changing it back tonight. Wanted - one brand new land rover steering wheel. For sale - one very slightly used mountney black steering wheel! with boss!!

Oh.

For the past week or so, I've had no "dipped" light in the nearside lamp. Main beam is fine, sidelight works fine. Changed the bulb this evening to see if that was the problem - unfortunately it wasnt. Any ideas where I go next?

Problem there is Ralph, the mud console wont fit the dash I've got, and as you Pm'd me there is a lot of work to do to make another dash fit in it's place.....The mudpod might be useful tho... But yes it would be nice to get the rev counter on the main dash console........are the fuel gauge and the battery meter also 52mm, obviously I would have to relocate one of those.....