DIFFLOCK.com - Buyer's Guide

APART FROM being what many users describe as ‘a basic workhorse’ Land Rovers have the ability to take conversions which make them acceptable in a range of different industries, not the least of which are construction and farming. The basic Land Rover can be adapted to provide a source of electric or hydraulic power, and mechanically it can be adapted to drive almost any form of stationary, rear moun-ted or trailer mounted equipment. It can take lighting equipment, access platforms and fire fighting equipment and it appears in the armed forces of governments all over the world in its basic and specialist military forms.

Many items of equipment are available from local Unipart dealers. Rubber helper springs are supplied in kit form and replace standard rubbers. The effect of fitting these is to reduce spring deflection on full load and reduce body roll on high-bodied conversions. Centre power take-off which fits on to the rear of the transfer gearbox enables mechanical or belt drives to be taken to equipment like generators and compressors. This can be used in any gear at any speed and the flange accepts the Hardy Spicer universal joints. There are special conditions on the use of pro equipment, details of which can be obtained from Solihull.

Bottom power take-off provides a hydraulic or mechanical power source on vehicles already fitted with a centre power take-off and is easily fitted, replacing as it does the bottom cover of the transfer gearbox. It is used to power hydraulic winches, tipping trailers, road breakers, post hole diggers and similar equipment. Control is from the driving seat and it can be used in forward movement or when the vehicle is stationary.

A variety of pulling equipment is available from local dealers in kit form. An electric drum winch available in reversible and non-reversible versions has a free spooling clutch and is designed for self-recovery and general winching duties. A hydraulic drum winch is fully reversible under load and has automatic braking. The mechanical capstan winch has a mechanical drive from the crankshaft with an overload shear pin in the drive line. Maximum line pull is 40001b.

Rear power take-offs

There are three types of rear power take-off units to cover all Land Rovers. The unit is mounted on the rear cross member and is suitable for drive by ‘V’ belt to machines mounted on the rear of the vehicle and by prop shaft to trailer mounted equipment and remote station-ary equipment. A rear power take-off pulley is designed for driving remote stationary machinery by a flat belt and is suitable for use with Land Rover rear power take-off units.

Free wheeling hubs disengage front wheels from front wheel drive trans-mission and reduce petrol consumption. A similar economy is claimed for the overdrive conversion which operates on all gears.

In addition to mechanical conversions Land Rover supplies a number of accessories like ground anchors, roof rack and ladder, undershield, jerry cans and fixing kit, towing equipment and winch accessories like cable, rope and blocks.

Various forms of aids to easier and more comfortable driving are available from suppliers of special conversions. Boscombe Engineering Ltd offer the Eberspacher independent heater which provides instant heat on a pre-set time switch with a thermostatic control option. The Bostrom Division of UOP has a kit to reduce shocks and vibration by hydraulic-ally dampening the bucket seats which are available singly or in pairs.

Feeney & Johnson Ltd supply oa power braking kit suitable for all trailers and caravans and powered by manifold depression or engine driven exhauster. They also offer a three-line compressed air braking system suitable for all trailers over 2 tons gross.

One of the most familiar Land Rover conversions in the plant yard is that of the integral compressor unit. This provides an alternative to mounting a skid unit compressor on a flat bed which means that two separate power units have to be paid for and serviced. Airdrive Ltd of High Wycombe can install an underfloor or a rear body unit depending on how much of the cargo space is to be retained.

The compressor unit is the ITT Fluid Handling l00cfm version giving what the manufacturer claims is sufficient power to operate two road breakers. The whole unit is supplied as a complete installation from Airdrive. Current large users of these conversions are the S W Water Authority and Southern Gas in addition to a large number of local authorities throughout the country.

Complicated though it may sound Spencer Abbott (Engineers) Ltd of Bir-mingham is approved by Land Rover to carry out work for approved body build-ing companies. Even many of the conversions offered by other manufac-turers come to Spencer Abbott for final fitting.

Change to LPG

One interesting development is the installation of the Lindi-Hartog LPG conversion to the Range Rover.

LPG conversions have been carried out by some private owners but the approval by Land Rover Ltd of this type of propulsion may encourage more users to experiment with this type of power unit.

Another form of power that Spencer Abbott will provide from the Land Rover is hydraulic power. This can take the form of a ram action providing power for a variety of lifting and tipping applications especially useful in the agricultural world or it can provide the double action movement required for equipment like hedge cutters and concrete breakers.

Another area in which Spencer Abbott specialises is that of winches and capstans. For example, for drum winches the company can offer the option of hydraulic power, mechanical power operating from a power take-off, or electric power.

On the driving side Spencer Abbott offers air conditioning for Land Rovers, overdrive, free wheeling hubs and rear power take-off operating from a centre transfer box. In fact the company specialises in installing many types of equipment on a short run basis that it would not be possible to handle on the main assembly line at Solihull.

Recovery equipment

Two suppliers provide recovery equip-ment suitable for fitting to Land Rovers. Harvey Frost & Co Ltd, offers detachable equipment available with a wide range of extras including rear supporting jacks and sling. There is a built-in anti-sway bar, a swivelling head for side pulls and hand winching. Models are available for both hard and soft tops. B. Dixon-Bate Ltd supplies recovery equipment suitable for cars and light vans. This has a hydraulic lift with mechanical lock-out, a built-in anti-sway device and a spreader bar. The equipment folds flat when not in use.

Generator units

Tooley Electro Mechanical Co Ltd offers a range of equipment and conver-sions of especial interest to the construc-tion and civil engineering industries. Generator units up to 5kVA can be fitted under the front seat and rear-mounted units up to 2OkVA are available. These are driven from engine via the pto and are for use when stationary. Welders up to 400amp DC are available for mounting in the cab or in the rear according to size.

Recently, the company introduced a welding truck version of the Land Rover designed for the professional welder and suitable for work on contracts like pipe lines. The vehicle carries full size bottles mounted behind the cab, retractable hoses and a 300 amp DC or 400amp DC welding set. Of interest to plant companies is the mobile workshop, purpose-designed for each customer and including a choice of options which include electricity, welding equipment, compressed air, work-benches, storage lockers, floodlighting and a canopy.

Hydraulic platforms

Two companies supply hydraulic plat-forms for mounting on Land Rovers. Spencer & Sons (MH) Ltd fit their model HM28 which provides a working height of 8.5m for one-man operation. Platforms and over-riding base controls are fitted and the hydraulic power may be adapted for use by ancillary tools. Simon Engineering (Dudley) Ltd offers the 8.5m ~working height A70 model and the 9.5m working height ASO model. Platform and base controls are fitted and the hydraulic power may also be adapted for use by certain hydraulic tools. Both manufac-turers include built-in hydraulic stabilisers.The Land Rover can be easily adapted to a range of bodies including a stake side body and a drop-side body from P. D. Stevens & Sons Ltd of Market Drayton, a 3 cubic yard tipping refuse body from Hestair Eagle and ambulance bodies from Herbert Lomas Ltd and Pilchers (Greene) Ltd. Specialist emergency vehicles can be supplied by HCB-Angus Ltd, Chubb Fire Security Ltd, Carmichael & Sons (Wor-cester) Ltd and Gloster Saro Ltd.

Scottorn Trailers Ltd build the Bush-master trailer which provides six driven wheels in various combinations for maximum traction. The drive may be engaged from the cab; there is a dual braking system and the trailer may also be towed by unconverted vehicles. B. Dixon-Bate Ltd offer a lightweight articulated unit with a wide range of semi-trailer designs and a detachable pick-up body for the Land Rover when the trailer is not in use.

On-site servicing

For maintaining plant on site Tecalemit (Engineering) Ltd have adapted a long wheelbase Land Rover to provide com-plete on-site servicing. The power supply is completely self-contained and the veh-icle carries oils and grease, tyre inflation equipment, telescopic derrick and self reeling triple hose units. Finally, for weather like this country experienced earlier in the year Atkinsons of Clitheroe Ltd supply a snow clearance blade with manual or electro-hydraulic tilt, renew-able spring loaded tripping plate and interchangeable bull dozer blade with renewal and reversible cutting edge.