Howdy from Sweden, Europe
I am only intrested in cool old school looking 4x4, I choosed a Jeep Wrangler unlimited Rubicon 10th anniversary Year 2013, Defender is to costly, drives like a tractor and is unmodern, the landcruiser 70 series do not sell at all in Europe, we have destroyed our nature, so no need for one. I had a Suzuki Jimny and a 2012 2 door Wrangler Sahara before that.
The best looking 4x4, Defender, then Wrangler, then Landcruiser 70 series. Other toyotas and others looks like citycars, booring
Gelandewagen to expensive.
I dont know if a Defender or LC 70 series has a 12v outlet in the cargo area for the fridge etc, I wonder. Jeep Wrangler have that.
I sometimes have a another Photographer in the backseat to shoot wildlife, and need electric windows, Defender only have manual windows, to slow for fast bird/mamal photography.
Article from Expedition portal, they forgot about the payload
http://expeditionportal.com/why-the-jeep-wrangler-is-the-new-land-rover-defender/
I do agree that Jeep is becoming bigger and bigger over the world and sometimes as overlanding vehicle. For the price and coolness and modernity I think that the Jeep Wrangler is the best and cool 4x4 out there for wheeling and small overlanding for the price. If I had room in my garage and that the Defender would be nicer to sit in and had lower price and more modern, I would clearly go for a defender, it looks awesome.
Sadly, Defender only comes with diesel and sticks, I hate booth. I have driven several Defenders. And in Sweden the diesel tax is twice is very expensive on the Defender, You have to be a taxidriver to get that money back. Defender cost much more and are so high that is doesnt fit my garage. I do like the Defender room in the back, You can sit there and eat.
We do have a diesel Wrangler here for about 6000 dollars more, sounds like a tractor and drives like a tractor, Pentastar rocks
The Wrangler have crapy pay load, but it would cost much more with increased payload with bigger axles as Defender has and so fourth so I have to addapt to my Wrangler and to use modern light weight camping equipment.
Many countries like UK, South Africa, Australia are very into Landrover and Toyotas and it will take them a long time to dig Jeeps. One problem they do are thinking about old jeeps, they have to think about a new Jeep Wranglers year 2012+ and compare. Jeep Wrangler improves every Year.
I self only do car camping, so the Wrangler works for me but I do understand that for real overlanding in for instance Australia for a month in rough nature they payload isnt really enough in a Wrangler. The Landrover Defender 110 and Toyota Landcruiser 70 series has about more than dubble the payload compared to a Wrangler unlimited. The landrover Defender has similar axles as Dana 60, my Rubicon unlimited has Dana 44.
If You dont do serious overland/expedition and only go for one och two weeks and use it as a dayly driver a Wrangler is very good, cool and modern. But do You do serious overlanding without motels and shops and gasstations a Defender and LC 70 series can bring al the stuff. But thoose vehicles cost more, very clumpsy, unmodern, not so good for dayly driving.
Just do the math with water for 2 people in a month.
Anyway, the LC 70 series, some of them comes with dual batteries, two dual gastanks (2x90 litres= 180 litres) and comes with snorkel from factory.
99% here dont do real overlanding anyway, I dont anyway
:sombrero:
Tom Sheppard, has 40 years of expeditiontravel and knows everything about every 4x4 out there. He had Defenders before and gelandewagen, and now with al his knowing he bought a 2 door year 2102 Jeep Wrangler as expedition vehicle, that is a very great verdict. He is an author
http://www.desertwinds.co.uk/
Intresting read here about different vehicles
http://www.outbacktravelaustralia.com.au/ Allan wrote to me (via e-mail) about my half-tonne load capacity vehicle Wrangler "For remote area trips you need to carry 200 litres of fuel and 80 litres of water, plus a fridge, food, tools, a second spare, tent or roof-top camper, etc. Trust me: you need a true one-tonne load capacity to handle all that"
Allan wrote this
"The Jeep was designed for the US market, where 4WDs are sued mainly for short jaunts close to towns. In Australia we use 4WDs in the same way – hence the popularity of vehicles like your four-door – but also for long trips away from food, water and fuel for up to a month at a time. We're actually on one such trip at the moment and have just driven into Alice Springs for some supplies..
For these longer expeditions you need a vehicle with a genuine one-tonne payload rating, or else you have to tow a trailer.
The Defender doesn't meet US collision or handling safety standards and I doubt that the LandCruiser 70 Series would either, but both these vehicles are excellent in long-distance off-road conditions."
I do agree with him, for real long overlanding travel the Wrangler is to tiny and dont have enough payload.
But we do have other problems, Defender have no airbags cost more than a Wrangler. Defender rolled over in the famouse moosetest in 60km/h. From
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/defender-elchtest-wirbel-bei-den-haendlern-731019.html
Here is an intresting test from South Africa, but this is the old Wrangler with the old engine and transmission and interior.
They are many to give verdict, Jeep wins. But what about payload when doing real overlanding????
http://www.chryslergroup.co.za/jeep/interwoven/downloads/media/ShootOutOfTheLegends.pdf
Another test
http://www.leisurewheels.co.za/shootouts/wrangler-versus-defender-versus-g-class/
Old one
http://www.4x4ph.com/site/2008/09/23/clash-of-the-icons/
http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-com...oyota-v-land-rover-v-jeep-20111001-1l28n.html
I think Defender looks cooler and rougher
Please take a look at Andrews (southafrican) making of the best overlanding he could find. Aniway He had to do major and costly modifications
Second part
Also intresting
Defender against 70 series, old
