When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Just returned from a two week overland adventure in my D110. My son and I and some friends in another rover started in the south, drove to Red River,NM and drove up to Goose Lake for the first night of camping, Medano Pass over to the Great Sand Dunes, then on to Gunnison and down a long pass out of Lake City toward Ridgway. Then a few nights at Owl Creek pass and Cow Creek. Finished up over Imogene and the Defender handled it perfectly! No airing down needed, and only engaged 4 low one time!
A couple of thoughts:
-I love the fact that I pushed it through some challenging off-road conditions (deep mud, water crossings, mild rock crawling and sand) and then how notably quiet, comfortable and solid it drove me 1200 miles on fast interstates back home (with all the gear on the roof and loaded down!). 20 inch rims with BFG KO's. For what I was able to do, I would never need anything more!
-I installed one of the aftermarket front lower aluminum skid plate “underbody protection” which took a couple pretty good hits from rocks… It did its job and I’m glad I had it.
-The clear sight rear-view mirror is brilliant when my cargo area was jammed up to the ceiling. Such great visibility!
-This may mean nothing, but we were caught in a hailstorm while at high altitude in the San Juans and couldn’t get to any tree cover. A friends Ford F150 sustained some mild, but noticeable hail damage to his hood, but the Defender came out of the same storm unscathed.
-Used an iPad running Gaia connected to a Garmin Glo GPS puck, but found it difficult especially if our plans changed to areas where I hadn't downloaded all the maps. Surprisingly the built in satellite maps in the Pivi's system in 3D was incredibly accurate and showed many of the off-road tracks that we were taking. Its not great for exploring or designing routes, but was helpful to just look around, when not needed serious 4x4 info.
-The "low battery" warning that occurs while camping out of the vehicle is SO annoying! Obviously while car camping, you're going to open and close doors multiple times and each time the computers come to life and use significant power. I know that this has been covered on other threads but is enough to cause you to just leave a door or two cracked open (if not raining), so prevent this. But I would love an option in the systems to turn on "camping mode" to stop this. “Camping Mode” could prevent the Pivi, its screens and other high amp draws from occurring with every door opening, but still turn on interior lights when a door or tailgate were opened, then turning immediately off when closed. With the next ignition/engine start, camping mode would be ended and everything back to normal.
-The "plasticy" interior, expecially around lower door cards and cargo area is pretty susceptible to scratching and damage from sharp cargo and tools. Probably nothing to be done about this, but just wish it was a little tougher.
Take a look at this video from Simon. He goes into the big draws on the battery while parked. The biggest offender is the infotainment system (fuse 51 rear fuse panel) but he gives some other suggestions as well.
@drcoop - "Camping Mode"!! That's brilliant. Keep adding options that I would travel to @Mark1107 to have done. I'm starting to get enough reasons. Thanks for that, @UtahLandy . Haven't been too his Channel in a while and that was timely.
TGFS! Thank God for Simon - I've run into this so may times, and have always been mildly worried/concerned, cause you seldom bother climbing into the drivers and see the warning. Makes me wonder if there are any off roading remediation 'tricks' to maintain battery level, e.g. solar panel charging? I'm going to be out in the Oregon high desert area for about 3-4 weeks in late Aug, early Sept, and would like to plan for this eventuality
@GrouseK9 i would also love to see a feature of camping mode that does some slight leveling for a roof top tent. with air suspensions this seems like something that could very easily be done in software.
Man @GavinC !! I MISS Mt. Rainier. It's been a long time since I've been there, but it'll always have a place in my heart.
I'm the one in the lower left, not the "glamour shot"!
Impressive mate. Very cool. I've not climbed it yet. Need to develop my glacier skills a bit. Not to mention my fitness. My ice axe and spikes might get some play this weekend. Eyeballing a snow clad peak. Crazy resilient snow pack this year.
Weather was absolutely magic this trip. Could see all the way to Mt. St Helens and beyond, even from the lower slopes. Kids had fun. As did I. Snowball fights in July are always a good laugh.
Our campsite backed right onto the Ohanepecosh river.
Other than the road to Mowich Lake in the north of the park, accessible roads are all sealed. No chance for any Defender shots.
High Tide in OBX - Corolla, NC
