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The Bonatti Gray 03 SE was a good looking rig - RIP.
Thank you, really wanted it to work out...since the color was exactly what l wanted...but the frame cracked and was rusted.
Also, are those Atturo Trail Blade A/T's on the Defender? Curious what you think of those.
Yes, Trail Blades. Put them to the test last fall, off road, and they did better than expected. Unfortunately, no pictures of the mudholes she crawled through, wheel by myself 99% of the time. Very quiet on the road, too.
Running OME heavy duty springs and shocks. Used them when I changed to an aftermarket front bumper with a winch, and a rear bumper. Both bumpers are great, unfortunately both fab shops are no longer around.
Kennesaw Mtn. products for the front, Hard Labor Creek for the rear. Got a 2" lift and springs strong enough to balance out the added weight of the winch and bumpers.
Loaded for bear...(8 day trip, two people, tools, food, rock-hound wife's collection of agates on board, etc). As you can see, she squatted some in the rear.
Same lift in my 03...
Ended up adding 1" spacers...and in my opinion...that gave it the perfect stance. Planned on adding 285's...but the battle was real with this Dll...so l sent it to "meet its maker".
The 2" TF lift and shock set up worked well in all conditions, on and off road. Ride was pleasant and not too much body roll (granted, l'd removed frt and rear sway bars...so you had to stay on your toes). Looking back, considering some of the overland loads it carried...heavy duty rear springs would probably get the nod second time around.
But, in order for that to happen...Victoria would have to be left idle...
Victoria has 1.5" OME HD lift with bilstein shocks. Rides like a buckboard wagon when empty...but with rack and some additional weight...she's tolerable...add the RRT and camping gear...and she's sweet.
2inch TF MD plus 1inch aluminum spacers, on my 02 Kalahari, 2inch OME MD plus 1inch aluminum spacers on my 99 D2, and my 04 has 3inch RTE HD springs. I like the ride of the MD TF/OME and the 1inch spacer makes up for the height. The RTE's I have are the cherished older units back when RTE springs were really really good, so although they are rated as HD the ride is very good.
@Best4x4 - I got some 1 inch spacers on their way. Already have the 2 in TF lift, extended sway links and brake lines. Did you have to extend you ABS sensor wires once you added the additional one inch of lift?
Follow Up Question: For those running a TerraFirma 2-inch lift kit, I've noticed that the different online Land Rover vendors offer different options for 2-inch kits. Not just the typical medium v. heavy duty springs, but also which shocks they include with the kits at different price points. I believe one vendor in particular is using the +2-inch spring with less expensive, standard length shocks to come up with a slightly less expensive advertised kit price. I know that the +2-inch spring would still give *possibly* about a 2-inch lift, but should also compromise down-travel in the shocks as a result.
Can anyone confirm the part #'s on their shocks and their experiences concerning exactly which kit they wound up with?
