Arguably the most successful workhorse on the UK commercial scene, the Land Rover Defender offers class-leading durability and an impressive payload that makes it pretty much unstoppable, whatever the job at hand. It’s a 4×4 that’s often described as a Swiss army knife, with its versatility on and off the road lauded above all else.
The Defender 130 is particularly popular for commercial users, with its character, brilliance off-road and widespread market appeal making it a real winner. Team this with the fact that the value of the Defender is more likely to go up than down, and purchasing a 130 is an investment worth making.
On road however, the reputation of the Defender 130 is an entirely different story as Auto Express describes:
“No modern car has been capable of emulating its off-road prowess, although if you’ve driven one, you’ll know about the huge sacrifices you have to make if you want to drive a Defender daily. It’s massively outclassed by modern SUVs, and all of the 4×4 ability in the world can’t mask the fact the Defender is incredibly uncomfortable on tarmac, as well as very noisy.”
The right upgrades can strike a balance between the perks of being a Defender owner and these downsides. Here are the work upgrades to make for the best and biggest results!
Level the playing field
If carrying widely varying loads is all in a day’s work for you and your Defender 130, then adding Pedders Air Bags is what we’d recommended.
This high quality, premium suspension air bag kit saves your OE suspension system a lot of unnecessary stress and strain. Each air bag can be controlled and levelled independently to make transporting trailers, caravans, horse boxes and other heavy loads simple.
It’s easy to install and operate too, with optional air assist giving you the opportunity to add an onboard compressor to make inflation even more seamless and simple. Pedders Air Bags are also rated for on and off road as well as work and leisure use.
Take storage up top
Don’t miss out on the extra storage to do your job right. Instead, install our Front Runner Slimline II 1/2 Roof Rack to make use of underutilised space up top. This roof rack system has been developed specifically for the 130, with the taller kit doubling your Defender’s roof storage area.
Store items on top and underneath the rack, and incorporate innovative and clever add-ons to customise your setup further.
Support better performance
That air compressor we mentioned earlier can be used for more than just inflating and deflating your Defender’s suspension air bags. Having access to an air compressor unlocks a number of benefits, whether you’re off-roading, camping, fishing or working.
The ARB High Output Air Compressor Inflation Bundle is our product of choice. It can be used to customise the pressure of your tyres, amongst other things, to make your Defender 1990-2016 more work-ready. You’ll find everything you need in this handy kit too, including air filters, installation hardware, wiring loom and full fitting instructions.
Shop more work upgrades for the 130
We stock a wide range of premium quality upgrades for the Land Rover Defender 130 (1990-2016), including mods to enhance your work life and leisure time. Are you the proud owner of a Land Rover Defender 90? Prep this model for work and weekend with our recommendations here.