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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: South Yorks
Posts: 2194

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
Replacement Chassis Opinions/Feedback
Afternoon all,

Sadly the time has come to replace the chassis on my DCPU. It is a shame as the front end of the original and all the outriggers are in great condition but the rear is in fairly poor shape having already replaced the rear cross member with a Blacksheep one a few years back.
So obviously a new galv one is on the cards but the choice is fairly large and i have read countless contradictory reviews on pretty much all the brands so looking for a little steer, especially from anyone who has purchased/used any of the brands. As i see it the choice is:

1. Shielder - Quite a bit of mixed feedback on them and not as competitively priced as they used to be;
2. XD - Very tempting as they have either an OE style folded construction or a HD S355 chassis and are quite competitive
priced. Supplied via Bearmach;
3. Marland - Seems to be the best regarded as 'Genuine' GKN type. High priced unless bought from Terrain Tech who seem to
be an 'avoid' type company. Very few negative comments relating to their Defender chassis although their none
OEM Series ones seem to be a lot worse;
4. Richards - Generally well regarded but quite a few negative reviews around for alignment issues. They are fairly local to
me and used one previously on a 300TDi build. Seemed qood quality but was missing the front brake hose
mountings totally.

I am not considering a Shielder one but i am fairly torn between the other three, prices currently look like;
2. £2400 incl VAT in HD form or £2910 for the retro style one;
3. £3000 incl VAT from Terrain Tech or £3300 from KD LR;
4. £2580 incl VAT direct

I believe all of them now come with the gearbox cross member now too.

Appreciate your input. Cheers,
Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
84' 90 3.9 V8 Caged Pickup Build Thread


Mobile Diesel Heater Build Thread
Post #847791 3rd Aug 2020 12:44pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10353

United Kingdom 
I had a Richards. Can't say there's any issues with it and the build was fine. I'm getting one for the td5 next year, though I'll be trying a Marsland next.
Post #847798 3rd Aug 2020 1:08pm
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strang



Member Since: 16 May 2012
Location: Happy Valley
Posts: 1361

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
How about giving Matthew at Alpine Restorations in Sowerby Bridge a call - he specialises in Defender chassis swaps, and see which ones they fit. They seem to use both Richards and Marsland

https://www.alpine-restorations.co.uk/galv...placement/

07896 595192 Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond.....
Post #847801 3rd Aug 2020 1:16pm
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Nidge



Member Since: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Kildare Ireland
Posts: 809

Ireland 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HCPU Cairns Blue
Give Terrain Tech a wide Berth.........I still haven't received a pair of rock sliders ordered on 21 April and others have had issues too.

I've fitted both Shielder and Richards chassis, Richards was miles better..... but I'd be tempted to try the heavy duty XD one next time round.

Nidge
Post #847812 3rd Aug 2020 2:21pm
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Harry.O



Member Since: 25 Jul 2014
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 704

United Kingdom 1989 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Nato Green
6 or 7 years ago I had a Richards and no complaints other than minor alignment issues with the rear tub. That said it wasn't the same rear tub that came off the old chassis so can't be certain it was an issue with the chassis. They were great to deal with and at the time offered a very competitive price.

I chose Richards because they were the only outfit that would undertake a few modifications prior to galvanising such as a 2nd set of engine mounts for a pending LT77 to R380 conversion, trimming/plating the dumbirons and roll cage mounts. The only thing that they didn't offer back then was the adjustable tab for the rear x-member/tub mounts which would have been a nice feature. 2005 Td5 110 Hardtop
1989 300Tdi 90 Soft top
1992 200Tdi 90 Truck cab with Land Cruiser axles
Post #847814 3rd Aug 2020 2:27pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2519

Scotland 
I’ve had a Richards and two Marslands - the latter for me every time.

You should be able to buy it through your local 4x4 place cheaper than the online ones. But you may need to wait.
Post #847840 3rd Aug 2020 5:08pm
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rockster57



Member Since: 15 Nov 2014
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 937

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver
strang wrote:
How about giving Matthew at Alpine Restorations in Sowerby Bridge a call - he specialises in Defender chassis swaps, and see which ones they fit. They seem to use both Richards and Marsland

https://www.alpine-restorations.co.uk/galv...placement/

07896 595192


+1 ^^^
Matthew currently doing a replacement for me.



Click image to enlarge
Post #847877 3rd Aug 2020 7:24pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10353

United Kingdom 
I physically couldn’t bolt old rusty dampers and fuel filter bracket onto a new chassis....

Which is why the v8 cost so much... especially as i only wanted a bulkhead Laughing
Post #847882 3rd Aug 2020 7:30pm
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rockster57



Member Since: 15 Nov 2014
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 937

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver
I know what you’re saying Greeni. It irks me too but needs must! This is an insurance related replacement, not something I’ve planned and been able to budget for. There’s life left in those old parts and I don’t have the finances to replace them for appearance’s sake. Plenty of other old stuff will be bolted back on too but I’ll be tidying it all up myself once I get the vehicle back.
Post #847942 4th Aug 2020 6:43am
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Lwb97



Member Since: 10 Sep 2015
Location: Powys
Posts: 75

Wales 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Oslo Blue
The couple of Richards I’ve fitted were not bad at all but the marslands I’ve fitted are by far the better fitting chassis, everything lines up as it should. I’m yet to try an XD but may be on the cards as there a bit cheaper then the marslands.
Post #847946 4th Aug 2020 7:03am
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 383

United Kingdom 
I’ve gone for an XD heavy duty, currently painting it up before I fit it. Was never going to touch a shielder after seeing so many horror stories and having fitted a few Richards, the fitment has been pretty poor. Which left me the choice of XD or marsland.

Made my choice based on recommendation and price, with the XD being nearly £1000 cheaper than a marsland and Is meant to be a good fit it was a bit of a no brainer. will see how fitting it goes later this year
Post #847976 4th Aug 2020 10:36am
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: South Yorks
Posts: 2194

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
Some good feedback thanks,

Jimbo, would be very interested to hear your feeback on the XD HD one as it is very tempting. How does the quality look initially? I cant believe there is so little feeback on them as they have been around a while and price wise are very competitive. Maybe no feedback is good feedback


Cheers,
Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
84' 90 3.9 V8 Caged Pickup Build Thread


Mobile Diesel Heater Build Thread
Post #847978 4th Aug 2020 10:48am
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10353

United Kingdom 
A friend just built one on an XD chassis, I don't think he had any issues.
Post #847980 4th Aug 2020 10:51am
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: South Yorks
Posts: 2194

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
Also good to hear thanks GREENI

Cheers,
Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
84' 90 3.9 V8 Caged Pickup Build Thread


Mobile Diesel Heater Build Thread
Post #847982 4th Aug 2020 10:55am
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 383

United Kingdom 
Rallysteve, all of the welds and galv covering looks good. Only things I’ve noticed really are the tow bar and anti roll bar mounts don’t have the nuts welded on and there’s no sleeve through the chassis for the front lashing eyes, neither of which I’m too bothered about.



Click image to enlarge




Click image to enlarge
Post #847986 4th Aug 2020 11:02am
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