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[angello]

I was reminded the other day that my father's first Land Rover had a rather natty DC arc welding accessory that made use of an upgraded alternator and some hefty switching to allow the user to undertake arc welding 'in the field'....

We never used it in anger, but it got me thinking about what are the most useful accessories for old Land Rovers still undertaking their intended tasks today....

I think we can probably all agree that a heated windscreen, overdrive and accessory 12V cigar lighter / USB socket are all seriously useful bits of kit that add worthwhile benefit to an old Series, but what else ranks as 'must have' kit??? 

For those with the need, I guess a winch?

For me, I often seem to need compressed air when out and about as there is inevitably a soft tyre on a trailer or a piece of machinery with a flat....

But what about you lot? What accessories do you have fitted that you can't do without? or what do you find yourself yearning for in a 'I wish I had that' moment?

 

[Alan Drover]

For my Series 3 in my opinion the Fairey overdrive I bought for £100 in the 1990's after it had been rebuilt is probably the best. Heated windscreens and Exmoor Trim hi back seats are next best. A capstan winch is fitted but not connected as I haven't fitted the drive to the 2.5 petrol (to be honest I can't find it.) Other upgrades are a high torque starter motor and a 70 amp alternator. Also Defender doors have been fitted at which the purists will wring their hands in despair but they are considerably better than the Series 3 ones. Freewheeling hubs were fitted but have been removed and sold.
Parabolic springs and Wolf wheels are fitted also. No pothole worries with the wheels.

[PetrolFour]

Beauty is a light-switch away.

[Wittsend]

By far the best accessory for a daily driver type Land Rover is a pair of electrically heated screens 

Everything else comes after.


 

[Matt Reeves]

Just to have everything functioning as intended is enough for me! Plus I'm a great believer in the mantra "less is more".

It's interesting how the perceived desirability of a given accessory is dependent on the owners location, for example in a hilly area with mainly country roads an overdrive doesn't seem particularly vital, but in flatter areas and if doing a lot of distance on motorways I can see why it would be.

[Robin]

Not exactly a 'working Land Rover', but for those of us with campers, Diesel/petrol night/cab heaters are one of the best things since sliced bread, in my opinion.

Followed closely by a compressor fridge, and, of course, overdrive for those 5000+mile expeditions   

[Steifbear]

Personally converting my motor to a 200tdi has made the single biggest difference to its usability.

Without it I could not afford to run my landrover as my only vehicle as an everyday driver.

Like robin says tho my diesel night heater and 230v block heater are both brilliant if I’m doing my short commute.

Pete-with-a-V

[andrewR]

Multiple old pairs of (clean) underpants stashed on the dashboard near the steering wheel, for various wiping activities.
Ideally segregated into "oily" and "not oily" so you can wipe the screen without making it worse.

... and a stubby flat-blade screwdriver for adjusting voltage regulator and carb settings.

[PetrolFour]

List assumes all seasons ‘daily-driver’, 5000+ miles per year. To mix-it with Mr White Audi/ cluelesss. Most not required for 'classic-as-a-classic-use'  - no particular order:

1) Petrol? - electronic ignition. Likely 123 unit.
2) Vast amounts of sound-proofing - Wright-off-road etc
3) Rocky-Mountain door-tops. (also drops noise)
4) Discs all round + G valve + coiler-servo etc.
5) PAS
6) 17H gassed or TDi
7) Heated-screens
8) Coiler-mirrors
9) Radio (if petrol, if TDi forget it!)
10) USB & SatNav
11) Decent interior lighting
12) Coiler heater
13) 65-70 Amp Alternator
14) La Salle roof-liner (also drops noise)
15) Cigarette-Lighter socket
16) Head restraints (I like my neck)
17) Anti-burst locks
18) Full gauges including Lambda
19) 569203 or 569204…. just because..
21) Twin-box exhaust.
22) Roverdrive/Overdrive + transfer-box cover.
23) Outwardly appears factory-stock, and ' used'.

+ nil sink-estate 'Seen-Croc-Dundee-Once-too-Often’ shonk.  The LR community - via some individuals has several unfortunate stereotypes - each with a poor reputation. Damage was done. Least we can do is not reinforce these.

[PetrolFour]

24) Reverse lamp. ( today's drivers are caught unawares in car-parks etc without + 109 turning-circle finds us in reverse more than others expect.).

[Porkscratching]

Yikes.. Mines a daily driver, the only vehicle I possess, and I don't have any of the above other than the  "appears factory stock and used"  one 

[crumbly65]

My most useful accessory is an understanding & sympathetic SWMBO …

[Matt Reeves]

Yikes.. Mines a daily driver, the only vehicle I possess, and I don't have any of the above other than the  "appears factory stock and used"  one 

Ditto, except it isn't currently my 'daily' though has been in the past, and shortly will be again. Previous to the 61 88" my daily for six years was a completely stock military Defender 90 2.5 N/A which I took all over the place, suffering one puncture and one bad earth on the lights in the entire time.

Each to their own, but a bog standard Series is just as useable and capable now as when new.

[Steifbear]

My most useful accessory is an understanding & sympathetic SWMBO …

I concur most enthusiastically! 😂

[PetrolFour]

Yikes.. Mines a daily driver, the only vehicle I possess, and I don't have any of the above other than the  "appears factory stock and used"  one 

Er... certainly no diktat, just what's on mine, stuff i find useful or for my purposes essential. That doesn't mean essential for most. That little lot, thrown on over some 30 years.

SWMBO hates the thing; feel we're obligated to wind 'em up with something... for the sake of England and all.