In the event you’ve received a {custom} Land Rover Defender from the likes of Nene Overland, Twisted, Overfinch, Afterwatch, or any of the opposite proficient professionals devoted to constructing you a car to your precise specs, likelihood is you most likely know a number of methods to maintain your 4×4 comfortable. However are you aware all of them? Right here we reveal 10 of probably the most important suggestions you need to know as a {custom} Defender proprietor.
1. Be sure to use a specialist insurance coverage dealer
Many don’t realise that, if you happen to personal a {custom} Land Rover Defender, you will get higher safety by taking out a Land Rover insurance coverage coverage from a specialist insurance coverage dealer like us.
Your car is considered one of a sort, so that you may discover that common insurance coverage doesn’t truly offer you the fitting degree of canopy for all of the bespoke components and extra options you’ve chosen on your construct.
At Adrian Flux, we’re in a position to present like-for-like cowl on modifications, that means that every one the bells and whistles you’ve added to your customised Landy are coated too.
Plus, our insurance policies might be tailor-made to your wants, making them extraordinarily versatile. We provide a variety of optionally available extras, together with:
- Agreed worth cowl
- House owners membership and discussion board reductions (extra on that later)
- Restricted mileage reductions
- Cowl for off-roading
- Protected no claims low cost
Name us on 0800 369 8590 to get an insurance coverage quote, or guide a callback at a time that fits you.
2. Maintain a detailed eye out for rust
If there’s one factor to look out for on a Defender, it’s rust. Whereas your {custom} construct will arrive trying all shiny and new, if you happen to don’t take correct care, corrosion can construct up and unfold fairly shortly, particularly if you happen to’re taking your Defender on off-road adventures or unpaved roads. After an outing, it’s integral that you simply take away any construct up of mud to forestall rust from forming.
Rust is commonest within the chassis, footwells, doorways and firewall of the car. Don’t be afraid to slip beneath the car and examine the underbody at common intervals.
3. Be additional vigilant about corrosion in winter
In addition to the construct up of mud, one of many greatest culprits of corrosion is the usage of highway salt throughout icy durations in winter. If that is left to construct up in your car, it could trigger critical injury. One of many best methods to take away highway salt is to make use of heat water, which might be combined in equal components with vinegar, and apply this to your car with a gentle brush.
You can even assist forestall the build-up of salt by waxing your Defender earlier than the winter months.
4. Be part of a Land Rover Defender proprietor’s membership or discussion board
There’s no higher option to meet fellow Landies than by becoming a member of an proprietor’s membership within the UK. Proprietor’s golf equipment offer you entry to occasions, permitting you to rub shoulders with different traditional Land Rover house owners and speak upkeep suggestions, restoration initiatives, and extra.
There are additionally a variety of completely different UK boards for Land Rover house owners, permitting you to maintain updated with the most recent information, change recommendation about your loved one 4x4s, and organise off-roading journeys.
Becoming a member of an proprietor’s membership or discussion board may also assist cut back your insurance coverage premiums with us because it tells us that you simply’re an fanatic and extra prone to deal with your car effectively.
5. Take layers of clothes with you
It’s no secret that most of the traditional Defender fashions are draughty, so if the climate’s trying prefer it’s about to show or the forecast is trying grim, it’s a good suggestion to pack a number of additional layers. Be additional ready when off-roading simply in case you get caught or find yourself staying longer than anticipated.
6. In the event you’re fascinated about going off highway, ensure that your car can deal with it
Though Land Rovers by their very nature are designed to go off-road, the kind of modifications you get might have an effect on whether or not you need to journey throughout rugged terrain. Some {custom} builds, for example, lean extra closely in direction of making your Defender a luxurious car to be used on common roads, whereas others will concentrate on enhancing the Landy’s pure off-roading skills.
And that’s to not say that road-spec Land Rovers can’t nonetheless deal with going off-road, however if you happen to’ve opted to decrease your suspension otherwise you’ve chosen much less grippy tyres, you may need to seek the advice of with the mechanics who carried out your {custom} construct to see how effectively outfitted the car is on your deliberate adventures.
7. Contemplate retro-fitting Adblue for diesel Defenders travelling in low emission zones (LEZ)
Though some older 110s will already be ULEZ and LEZ-exempt for being over 40 years outdated, you’ll have to pay the LEZ or ULEZ cost for almost all of traditional Defender fashions – or you can also make them compliant with emissions requirements to keep away from the cost. Which means diesel-fuelled Defenders might want to adjust to Euro 6 requirements.
An possibility for doing that is retro-fitting a brand new Selective Catalytic Discount (SCR) system and Adblue. This mix helps enhance the effectivity of the catalytic conversion whereas additionally lowering NOx emissions according to requirements. Some people who’ve gone by a conversion have additionally famous that the improve has diminished the noise degree of their Defender.
There are various corporations that perform retro-fittings within the UK. This contains Cybrand (however just for fashions made after 2011), Nene Overland and Twisted Automotive. Word that Twisted use completely different methods than the one outlined above and may also modify petrol fashions to make them compliant with Euro 4.
8. Make the most of your {custom} professionals’ aftercare companies
Most {custom} builders provide aftercare companies to maintain your car in the most effective form potential. As an illustration, Nene Overland offers car servicing, MOTs, rustproofing, and extra.
Though this may really feel like an pointless expense, particularly after you’ve forked out tens of 1000’s of kilos (and even a whole lot of 1000’s of kilos) in your dream 4×4, there received’t be a mechanic who is aware of your car higher than the individuals who made it. They’ll even have entry to alternative {custom} components, that means any adjustments are precisely as you requested whenever you first configured your construct.
You’ll additionally discover that the majority {custom} professionals are comfortable to speak with you about any points you’re having along with your car, in order that they’re an excellent level of contact and it’s effectively price staying in contact with them.
9. Sustain along with your upkeep schedule
Most house owners will attest that Land Rovers want loads of TLC, so be sure to’re maintaining with a upkeep schedule. Common oil, filter and coolant checks are a should, and if you happen to’re going off-roading you may need to examine your gearbox and axle fluids repeatedly too.
It’s additionally a good suggestion to lubricate the grease factors on the entrance and rear propeller shafts’ u-joint nipples and slider nipples repeatedly. That is notably true after intensive off-roading journeys because it helps forestall the parts from operating dry.
10. Match a tracker and different safety units
Current Vary Rover thefts have been within the information, and though it looks like these are on the decline because of new know-how fitted to fashions, it’s higher to be protected, particularly with a car as valuable as a completely customised construct.
Storage Wire just lately reported that there was a rise in Land Rover Defender thefts, and a few traditional Defenders have even been stripped for components, so it’s a good suggestion to suit trackers and different safety units in your 4×4.
Including additional safety to your car might additionally assist to cut back your insurance coverage premium. We are likely to suggest two units used along with each other: the Tracker Retrieve Battery Powered and the Tracker Community Nano Help. These merchandise are made by the one monitoring firm that has a proper collaboration with all UK police forces.
Immobilisers, steering wheel locks, catalytic converter locks and different units can all contribute to protecting your car protected.
Get specialist Land Rover insurance coverage from Adrian Flux
A car as particular as yours deserves a singular type of insurance coverage coverage. As a specialist insurance coverage dealer, we’re in a position to tailor your Land Rover Defender insurance coverage quote to your wants. Name us on 0800 369 8590 for a quote or guide a callback at a time that fits you.