Hey everyone, so I’ve been tinkering with this six-wheeled Land Rover Defender project for a while now, and I thought it’d be cool to share my journey with you all. It’s been a wild ride, to say the least.
It all started when I got my hands on a used Land Rover Defender 110. I mean, this thing was a beast, even with just four wheels. But the moment I drove it, I was like, “Why not make it even more ridiculous?” I’ve always been a fan of those crazy six-wheeled trucks, so I thought, let’s do it with this Defender.
The first thing I did was a lot of research. I mean, you can’t just slap an extra axle on a car and call it a day. Turns out, the Defender’s platform, the D7X thing, is pretty tough. Like, really tough. That gave me some confidence that it could handle the extra weight and stress.
Tearing it down
Then came the fun part – taking it all apart. This was a bit of a headache, honestly. I had to strip down the rear end, removing the original axle and suspension. And let me tell you, those parts are heavy! And it was a tough work.
After that, I had to extend the frame. I got some steel beams, cut them to size, and welded them to the existing frame. It wasn’t pretty, but it was solid. I’m no pro welder, so it took a few tries to get it right. I even got the water pump pully drive belt damaged during the welding, it wasted me some time to figure it out.
Building it up
Next, I had to install the new axles. I found a couple of used ones from an old truck. Getting them to fit was a pain. I had to fabricate custom mounts and brackets. A lot of cutting, grinding, and welding was involved. After about a week of messing around, I finally got them in place.
- Fabricated custom mounts for the new axles.
- Extended the driveshaft to reach the rearmost axle.
- Installed a new suspension system to handle the extra weight.
- Upgraded the brakes to cope with the increased load.
Then, there was the whole issue of the driveshaft. I had to extend it to reach the rearmost axle. I found a shop that could make a custom one for me. It wasn’t cheap, but it was necessary.
For the suspension, I decided to go with an air suspension system. I figured it would give me a smoother ride and allow me to adjust the ride height. Installing it was a challenge, but I managed to get it done after many days.
Of course, with the extra weight, the original brakes weren’t going to cut it. I upgraded to some heavy-duty ones. I also had to install new brake lines to reach the additional axle. That was a messy job, let me tell you.
The finishing touches
Once all the mechanical stuff was sorted, I started working on the body. I extended the rear bed to cover the extra wheels. I used some sheet metal and a lot of rivets. It’s not perfect, but it looks pretty badass.
I also gave it a fresh coat of paint. I went with a matte black, because, why not? It makes the whole thing look even more menacing. I am thinking that maybe I should sell it, the price will comfortably overlaps with the larger Audi Q7.
The result
Finally, after months of work, it was done. My very own six-wheeled Land Rover Defender. I took it for a test drive, and man, it was a blast! It’s not the most practical thing in the world, but it turns heads wherever I go. Driving this thing is like being in a movie. People stare, point, and take pictures. It’s a bit ridiculous, but hey, that’s the point, right?
It’s definitely a unique ride. Would I recommend this to anyone else? Probably not. It’s a lot of work, and it’s not exactly cheap. But if you’re a bit crazy like me and you love a good challenge, then go for it! Just be prepared to get your hands dirty. This thing is smooth, sweet-sounding and effortless, I love it.
