• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
Prev
Defender 110 TD5 6
This is my dream, come along for the ride!
17 June 2021
Next
The Adventure Truck is born 3
The Adventure Truck is born
15 July 2021
The Adventure Truck
Series 3 or Td5?
July 1, 2021 by TLO in The Adventure Truck

This is now my biggest decision when shopping around for The Adventure Truck and it isn’t an easy one to make. There are so many different types of Land Rover I really have to refine my decision making or I will find myself floundering around like a teenager in the lingerie section of M+S looking at every thing in a wild sweaty panic.

The whole concept of this vehicle is fun, laughter and adventure. It’s not about refinement or comfort, but about the noise of the engine, the smell of gearbox oil and the wind in your hair (or draft at your feet) as you rattle down the road. As such I have completely discounted the modern post 2008 tDi Defenders, they are too refined, the air conditioning is simply too cold, and electric windows are too smooth and reliable. I want a 20+ year old ex Farm truck filled enough dents to match its no doubt frustrating character.

But do I go for a properly old Series 3 that I modernise and try and refine or a TD5 that I can (maybe) rely on and trust to get us around when we are in the UK with a tiny degree of reliability, but I can also upgrade into something a bit more fun. As I am 3,500 miles away from any vehicle I choose and am buying completely blind, I am only really left with comparing what I would like the end product to be through the power of instagram…

Series 3 or TD5

Where better to start than spending hours gazing at Cool N Vintages mind blowingly detailed and painstaking transformation of Series 3’s, I can’t imagine any vehicle being more wonderful. If money was no object then I would be running to their incredible factory in Portugal and picking up the most instagrammable vehicle on the road. But money sadly is a consideration, so as healthy as it is to dream I need to be realistic and the only way of getting close to the beauty of The Land Rovers creations or Drive Himlaya’s style would be to try and do a lot of the work myself or with a smaller garage…

But this is about decision making, and choosing between a Series 3 or a TD5, old or new….do I want to fold the windscreen flat and cruise around exposed to the elements like the Island Rover, or do I want big wheels and tyres replicating one of the Big Foot conversions from The Land Rovers. I’d be over the moon if I ended up with something similar to the beach runner Juice Motors put out last year, but equally an old truck with the style of Ponstyen Motors would equally cheer me up every day.

Series 3 in snow

Maybe there is some kind of middle ground, can I create a TD5 that looks enough like a series 3 without it being a bodge job, something like the wicked Defenders coming out of Riverhouse? Can I downgrade a Td5 and make a retro looking Defender that I can also improve and make into a genuinely fun and possibly even fast truck that fulfils all my requirements?

Obviously I know no one will even care, but I do, and if you are still reading this maybe you do. So it’s important, and provides hours of e bay/ autotrader/auction/ internet searches comparing my options and deciding exactly what kind of Land Rover The Adventure Truck will end up being.  But really it will only really start to take shape once I know what I am going to buy in the coming weeks…watch this space and please let me know your thoughts!

TD5 Beach runner
4 Comments
  • Adventure Truck
  • Blog
  • Decisions
  • Defender 110
  • Family
  • Fun
  • Land Rover
  • Project
60 Like!
Share
TLO

There are 4 comments on this post
  1. Justin
    July 02, 2021, 11:03 am

    The answer to your quandary of which reliable Land Rover to buy is surely “Colorado” or “Shogun” non? 🙃 though you didn’t hint as to your budget ..

    I’d be looking at Discovery’s personally, they mix at lot of what you want and say you don’t want but decent AC, a radio you can hear and somewhere to rest your elbows will on occasion be welcome!

    Remember when classic Range Rovers were cheap!

    • TLO
      July 02, 2021, 11:09 am

      I looked at the classic Range Rovers, nearly got swayed by some “stray dog Classics” beautiful restorations…

      But decided agricultural comfort was more up my street!!

      Hope all well mate.

  2. Auntie Panda
    July 05, 2021, 1:25 pm

    The saga of Sophie (our 1974 Series 3) continues! She is still in the workshop. We have replaced the points, condenser and carburettor kit, and she came alive! Only to repay us with billowing black smoke and something the mechanic calls “piston slap”… What does this mean? Worst case scenario is a new engine. But we are committed and waiting for the final verdict. Just wanted you to know what being on a Land Rover journey is all about!

    • TLO
      July 05, 2021, 11:37 pm

      Jack told me last week Sophie was his favorite car! (He didn’t even get inside!)

      I can’t wait!!!

Logo for 4 low 4 adventure
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Can I become a Rally Driver?
  • The Maroc Challenge – Spring 24
  • The Maroc Challenge – We are off
  • Packing list for a Morocco Rally – Maroc Challenge Spring 2024

Instagram

Super excited to be launching a real life race team @guinchoracing to take on some of the worlds wildest and most extreme rallies. I have now become a @ourmotorsportuk qualified rally driver with @skeggsmatt and we now have our first race car, a Range Rover classic V8, to convert into a Dakar rally spec weapon. 

Follow @guinchoracing for more updates as we get ready for racing across Africa in 2026 in the @africaecorace - Sponsorship opportunities launching soon!!!

#GuinchoRacing, #RallyRaidIberia, #OffRoadPortugal, #SpainRallyRaid, #MoroccoDesertRally, #DakarDreaming, #Classic4x4Adventure, #RangeRoverRally, #IberianRallyTeam #AfricaEcoRaceReady, #travel #adventure
4low4adventure
4low4adventure
•
Follow
Super excited to be launching a real life race team @guinchoracing to take on some of the worlds wildest and most extreme rallies. I have now become a @ourmotorsportuk qualified rally driver with @skeggsmatt and we now have our first race car, a Range Rover classic V8, to convert into a Dakar rally spec weapon. Follow @guinchoracing for more updates as we get ready for racing across Africa in 2026 in the @africaecorace - Sponsorship opportunities launching soon!!! #GuinchoRacing, #RallyRaidIberia, #OffRoadPortugal, #SpainRallyRaid, #MoroccoDesertRally, #DakarDreaming, #Classic4x4Adventure, #RangeRoverRally, #IberianRallyTeam #AfricaEcoRaceReady, #travel #adventure
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
After a little silence on insta there has been some breeding, now there are three!! Ventura will always have a special place in my heart, but now with Dudley the Series nearing completion suddenly selling him feels very hard, maybe too hard? The newest recruit, Roger the Range Rover is currently undergoing a conversion to become @guinchoracing first race car ready for 2026 inaugural rally season (watch this space)
.
.
.
#rangeroverv8 #defendertd5 #series3 #v8 #landroverseries #beachrunner #vintagelandrover #landylove #landroverclub #landroverlove #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #reborn #refurbish #restore #revitalise #guinchoracing
4low4adventure
4low4adventure
•
Follow
After a little silence on insta there has been some breeding, now there are three!! Ventura will always have a special place in my heart, but now with Dudley the Series nearing completion suddenly selling him feels very hard, maybe too hard? The newest recruit, Roger the Range Rover is currently undergoing a conversion to become @guinchoracing first race car ready for 2026 inaugural rally season (watch this space) . . . #rangeroverv8 #defendertd5 #series3 #v8 #landroverseries #beachrunner #vintagelandrover #landylove #landroverclub #landroverlove #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #reborn #refurbish #restore #revitalise #guinchoracing
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
Meet Dudley. A new member of the 4 Low fleet. This one getting a full beach runner restoration with the intention of maybe, just maybe being sold in the future. Follow along for all kinds of DIY cock ups as I try and revive this little legend.
.
.
.
#series3 #landroverseries #beachrunner #vintagelandrover #landylove #landroverclub #landroverlove #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #reborn #refurbish #restore #revitalise #revive
4low4adventure
4low4adventure
•
Follow
Meet Dudley. A new member of the 4 Low fleet. This one getting a full beach runner restoration with the intention of maybe, just maybe being sold in the future. Follow along for all kinds of DIY cock ups as I try and revive this little legend. . . . #series3 #landroverseries #beachrunner #vintagelandrover #landylove #landroverclub #landroverlove #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #reborn #refurbish #restore #revitalise #revive
1 year ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
A highlight reel from @marocchallenge in March. An epic week introducing us to the world of racing, rally driving and a whole new world of fun. Full video on YouTube (link in bio) - more of this will be coming soon I am sure!!
.
.
.
#marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
4low4adventure
4low4adventure
•
Follow
A highlight reel from @marocchallenge in March. An epic week introducing us to the world of racing, rally driving and a whole new world of fun. Full video on YouTube (link in bio) - more of this will be coming soon I am sure!! . . . #marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
1 year ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Day 6 - final race day, a complex day focussed on careful navigation. We started by cocking it up from the start when I entered yesterday’s start line into the GPS…so we were late for the briefing and got penalised before we even began.

We set off to be the fastest, as have decided that the rules are for sissies, but still managed to miss a few checkpoints and finish rather unimpressive 30th today. (Still fastest time to finish!)

Insane drive North to Rabat, over the snowy Atlas Mountains through a blizzard. Our windscreen wiper broke on day 1 so I had to MacGyver some bungee cord and a rope into a makeshift wiper. Somehow it held and we made it across the mountains and snow storms and into extraordinary rolling green countryside. Breath taking scenery mixed with mental Moroccan drivers skidding into ditches around us.

Only a casual 12 hour journey home in the rain tomorrow to finish this epic adventure.
.
.
.
#marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
4low4adventure
4low4adventure
•
Follow
Day 6 - final race day, a complex day focussed on careful navigation. We started by cocking it up from the start when I entered yesterday’s start line into the GPS…so we were late for the briefing and got penalised before we even began. We set off to be the fastest, as have decided that the rules are for sissies, but still managed to miss a few checkpoints and finish rather unimpressive 30th today. (Still fastest time to finish!) Insane drive North to Rabat, over the snowy Atlas Mountains through a blizzard. Our windscreen wiper broke on day 1 so I had to MacGyver some bungee cord and a rope into a makeshift wiper. Somehow it held and we made it across the mountains and snow storms and into extraordinary rolling green countryside. Breath taking scenery mixed with mental Moroccan drivers skidding into ditches around us. Only a casual 12 hour journey home in the rain tomorrow to finish this epic adventure. . . . #marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
1 year ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Day 5 - a rally special stage around Erg Chebbi dunes. Slightly less challenging terrain meant we had a super fast somewhat terrifying run today. Over taking from 12th all the way to the front, I have never felt closer to being in an actual rally car in my life. Totally awesome and brilliant fun, sideways, jumping, power sliding our way through the dunes and gravel tracks. 

The car ran beautifully and I can’t imagine how she survived the brutal thrashing the speed we gave her, poor thing! We smashed the competition today finishing a massive 8mins ahead of all cars in the whole raid. Sadly we still got caught speeding 4 times, so placed 13th despite being the fastest. 

Stupid rules, we obvs win on lad points.
.
.
.
#marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
4low4adventure
4low4adventure
•
Follow
Day 5 - a rally special stage around Erg Chebbi dunes. Slightly less challenging terrain meant we had a super fast somewhat terrifying run today. Over taking from 12th all the way to the front, I have never felt closer to being in an actual rally car in my life. Totally awesome and brilliant fun, sideways, jumping, power sliding our way through the dunes and gravel tracks. The car ran beautifully and I can’t imagine how she survived the brutal thrashing the speed we gave her, poor thing! We smashed the competition today finishing a massive 8mins ahead of all cars in the whole raid. Sadly we still got caught speeding 4 times, so placed 13th despite being the fastest. Stupid rules, we obvs win on lad points. . . . #marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
1 year ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Day 4 - Our fastest day so far, no car trouble, only one pee stop and a great track that took us through mountain passes, gravel plains and soft sandy routes. Superb fun with no wind and no sand storms!

Longest single dune climb I have ever done (7km) of slow incline up a big sand monster, car started to struggle near the top but made it no problem.

Awesome technical dune section that allowed us to pass the whole pack and meant we finished in first place, but sadly a navigation error (my fault) meant we missed a Waypoint and placed 12th. Maybe tomorrow with a day of dunes might bring a top ten place!
.
.
.
#marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
4low4adventure
4low4adventure
•
Follow
Day 4 - Our fastest day so far, no car trouble, only one pee stop and a great track that took us through mountain passes, gravel plains and soft sandy routes. Superb fun with no wind and no sand storms! Longest single dune climb I have ever done (7km) of slow incline up a big sand monster, car started to struggle near the top but made it no problem. Awesome technical dune section that allowed us to pass the whole pack and meant we finished in first place, but sadly a navigation error (my fault) meant we missed a Waypoint and placed 12th. Maybe tomorrow with a day of dunes might bring a top ten place! . . . #marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
1 year ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Day 3 - Billed as a nice easy day, started well with epic landscapes and bone jangling rocks. Within a blink of an eye a wild sand storm enveloped us and reduced our speed to 10kmh for many hours.

We had GPS issues (my fault) and as such found ourselves facing the wrong way into traffic, chilled, and then were forced to always follow someone else to the finish line. We came 17th today, so are improving!

Ventura running smoothly with her new heart pumping diesel, just an increase in squeaks, bangs, knocks and pieces falling off. She still goes one! Tomorrow we aim for top 10.
.
.
.
#marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
4low4adventure
4low4adventure
•
Follow
Day 3 - Billed as a nice easy day, started well with epic landscapes and bone jangling rocks. Within a blink of an eye a wild sand storm enveloped us and reduced our speed to 10kmh for many hours. We had GPS issues (my fault) and as such found ourselves facing the wrong way into traffic, chilled, and then were forced to always follow someone else to the finish line. We came 17th today, so are improving! Ventura running smoothly with her new heart pumping diesel, just an increase in squeaks, bangs, knocks and pieces falling off. She still goes one! Tomorrow we aim for top 10. . . . #marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
1 year ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Bivouac - God knows how many people in one tented camp for the night. Maybe 400 people, 200 tents, amazing food, ice cold beer and a welcome retreat from the endless Sand storm that raged all night.

Garage Iriki set themselves up in support of @marocchallenge and do the most incredible job of piecing all the broken wagons back together. I needed only the smallest assistance to fit a new fuel pump. I’d liken it to heart surgery in a sand storm…I was the anaesthetist, I thought it best to let the pro do the technical stuff. We nailed it and the car was back in the road in a blink of a sand filled eye.
.
.
.
#marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
4low4adventure
4low4adventure
•
Follow
Bivouac - God knows how many people in one tented camp for the night. Maybe 400 people, 200 tents, amazing food, ice cold beer and a welcome retreat from the endless Sand storm that raged all night. Garage Iriki set themselves up in support of @marocchallenge and do the most incredible job of piecing all the broken wagons back together. I needed only the smallest assistance to fit a new fuel pump. I’d liken it to heart surgery in a sand storm…I was the anaesthetist, I thought it best to let the pro do the technical stuff. We nailed it and the car was back in the road in a blink of a sand filled eye. . . . #marocchallenge #marochallengespring2024 #landrover110 #td5 #dualcab #defender110 #theadventuretruck #landylove #defender #greenlane #landroverclub #td5mafia #defendertd5 #landroverlove #dcpu #adventuretruck #landroverlifestyle #landroverphotos #landroveroflisbon #defender_life_style #venturatruck #travel #adventure
1 year ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
View on Instagram
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest