The 2023 Land Rover Defender 130

Land Rover has long been one of the most capable and respected manufacturers of off-road and overland transportation. The new 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 is no exception to this and solidly carries on the tradition of being an elegant yet rugged all-terrain solution. We’re going to take a look at what the

Beautiful Inside & Out

The 2023 Defender 130 is set to be as beautiful as it is functional. There are gorgeous interior aesthetic options, along with the latest tech upgrades. The 11.4” Pivi Pro touchscreen includes full integration with the GPS platform “what3words,” which helps to provide the most precise navigation and positioning data possible by giving the driver accurate navigation down to a specific 3m2 square anywhere on the planet. There’s also a customizable three-panel dashboard that can be tailored to the driver’s needs and preferences.

The exterior has been lengthened by more than 13 inches and now has the ability to provide full 2+3+3 adult seating. To enhance the all-terrain functionality, the body has considerable approach and departure angles. The significant cargo area inside is only enhanced with the addition of standard roof rails, and the 20-inch alloy wheels give the whole rig substantial ground clearance.

Mods & Upgrades To Consider Before You Leave The Pavement

If you’re a Land Rover fan, you’ve probably already read about all the bells and whistles that are going to come with the new Defender 130, but there is so much more you can do to customize your ride than the packages that the factory can install.

Skid Plates

Skid plates are one of the essential mods to consider for your Land Rover Defender 130. They are armored plates that protect the various portions of your undercarriage that are susceptible to damage from debris or scraping on approach or departure.

While the 2023 Defender does come with skid plates, aftermarket plates are going to be more robust and made from thicker plating to give you better protection. If you order one of the exterior upgrade packages, the factory plates will also be chrome, which, while they are attractive, aren’t highly functional.

Bumper & Brush Bars

Heavy-duty bumpers and brush bars are some of the best protection you can get for going through rough terrain where brush or small trees may be rubbing on your new Defender. They will help push the vegetation, scrub, and brush out of the way, as well as give you increased strength and functionality.

While your bars will help protect your Land Rover, they’ll also be a crucial point of attachment for other aftermarket upgrades. Your bars will be a great place to put auxiliary lighting, as well as a place to mount a winch to help with self-recovery if you get stuck on your adventures.

Auxiliary Lighting

Lighting is one of the easiest and most overlooked mods or upgrades you can do to your all-terrain rig. They’ll help you accurately navigate the trail so that you can more effectively traverse the terrain while avoiding potential hazards. They can help you determine the height of rocks you may need to crawl and help you figure out if you’ll need to hit that next hole or miss it to avoid rubbing or high-centering.

A Winch

If you ever plan to go wheeling off-road in either mud, sand, or significantly rocky terrain while alone, a winch is a must-have mod. A properly-installed winch will allow you to perform self-recovery and pull yourself out of just about any sticky situation.

Be sure your winch is rated for the full weight of your vehicle, as well as the added weight of all equipment, mods, and passengers it contains, and a generous percentage beyond that. Other things you’ll need with a winch are going to be a winch line, which can be steel or synthetic, and a fairlead. You may also want to upgrade your alternator or install a second battery to keep that winch fed while it gets you out of the muck.

More Juice

A second battery is always a great idea on any off-road or all-terrain vehicle. Not only will you probably have a winch that will tax your electrical system, but if you have additional auxiliary LED lighting like flood lights or spotlights, those will also need some substantial juice to stay operational.

A single battery may be enough, but you may find that running several accessories may cause your system to struggle to keep up. It can also be a lifesaver if you kill your primary battery while the Defender is off and you need to start up, giving you a way to get home when you may otherwise need a jump.

Spare Tire Rack

All-terrain adventures often involve traversing rocks, and those rocks can be deceptively sharp. Having your full-size spare on a rack can keep you able to swap out tires in the event of a puncture that can’t be patched on the trail. The rack itself will help keep that spare out of the way of trail rubbing, so it’ll be safe until you need it.

Snorkel Kit

For those that really want to give their Defender a chance for unbelievable adventures, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a snorkel kit installed. A snorkel will make sure that if you need to cross a creek or shallow river, your engine’s air intake is well above the waterline.

Even if you don’t plan on having to cross significant water, you may be on an outing and have a flash flood that cuts you off from your route, and that snorkel can be the difference between getting stuck and getting home.

Air Down & Rev Up

Now that we’ve covered what you can do with your 2023 Land Rover Defender 130, you should be ready to spend a little time wrenching on it before you really tackle some terrain. With that in mind, it’s time to get geared for the trail. Air down a little, then rev up and hit the road to put your new Defender through its paces.