ROAD TRIP: Land Rover Defender With World’s Most Extreme Caravan | Top Gear
Top Gear doesn’t have the rosiest history with caravans. They’re just so dull and ordinary. There they go holding up traffic, dawdling about, being ugly, being tedious, being beige, driving us mad. But then there’s the Bruder EXP-6. God we want one.
It has cabin pressurisation, up to 650mm of ground clearance, 600W of solar panels, 33-inch tyres, is mostly bulletproof and thanks to eight shock absorbers and four three-tonne support airbags, can be dropped off a cliff and emerge unscathed. The same does not apply to the contents. Land Rover probably claims as much for the Defender, but if I had to be the contents in one of them and dropped from a great height, it would be the one with a king-size double bed.
Far above and beyond the very mortal abilities of a regular caravan, it is a proper survival wagon. So, what are we doing with it? Well, Top Gear Magazine’s Ollie Marriage has a plan: to watch sunset on the longest day of the year, from the place on the British mainland where it sets last. That’s Cape Wrath, the extreme northwest corner of Scotland.
But not all goes to plan…
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The safety chain should not just be hooked over the tow ball. It should be attached to a separate fixing point on the tow vehicle as it is designed to secure the trailer if the tow ball breaks.
Yes spotted that and it did have the second fixing point too.
These guys are the WORST!
It got me shocked as I saw it too.
Lol what's the worst that could happen, they have a beast of a trailer and couldn't even find mud. They could have done all this in London.
What is shocking that the reliability of these new Defenders is not good, for the price they charge for them and the amount of time it took to develop these vehicles it seems much of the development time was wasted if they can’t achieve reliability 😡🙁🤔
I’ve just seen this… I was doing the NC500 with the same thought of seeing sunrise and sunset on the longest day and overtook you about 3 times heading back south. Looked an awesome rig on the move.
I thought Top Gear hated Caravans
They do. This is not Top Gear. It's some homogenised woke BBC embarrassment. Sad.
@@djblc2201 grow up
@@domt6802 I agree but he got a point
@@domt6802 Why ? It’s not like the OG TG boys have.
Weird how mans says in the very beginning how they didn’t fuck with them but are trying to give them a chance y’all just don’t listen and this dude has been with the company for years so all this “OG talk” is for the birds
finally some more bruder content, love it
Watching the current TopGear KZhead videos makes me wish the TV line-up was Ollie Marriage, Jack Rix, and of course Harris
In Australia, this paired up with a LandCruiser Sahara is the ultimate status symbol.
Well, that's what a few people who buy such things to go into a field to drink beer think... Everyone else has a bit of a different opinion. It's still a friggin caravan. Most people think the ability to have an enjoyable drive in a sporty GT to a luxurious hotel is a status symbol.
@@pistonburner6448 In Australia, that's a symbol for a wanker. But if you own a Bruder and an LC, even the most cynical and jaded Aussie would turn their heads and think ''f*ck, that looks sick''.
@@keynesianeconomics4113 ...you _think_ they do... Very few people really idolise lugging around a friggin caravan on a slow, horrible sounding tractor only to sit around growing your beer belly by chugging cheap beers in the middle of nowhere. There's literally nothing great, enjoyable, advanced, sporty, fast, anything people really, actually look up to or get excited about. Who gets their kicks from barely getting a 4-cylinder diesel moving and emptying a septic tank?
@@pistonburner6448 Real Australians get their kicks from it. Real Australians also only drive 6 or 8 cylinder diesels. Something tells me you're either European or an inner city latte sipper who drives a VW Polo.
@@keynesianeconomics4113 You have no clue what 'real' anything is. Just go tug your caravan around with your tractor and grow your beer belly. What a thrill. If only everyone in the world could have such amazing experiences! I've never had to empty a septic tank...oh woe is me! No need to demean yourself further by pointing out that you think a VW Polo is a GT car...
This was bonkers in a nice way! Cool video!
Love the trailer - what a great way to travel to the far reaches of the UK (or beyond), across whatever terrain you find!
How beautiful, love the trailer.
What a great review, and perspective on life. Cheers.
"But this a mammoth rig"....*Pats his head* awwww buddy, thats cute😂
Reliability would be the most important thing for a trip like this... Lol
Maybe the Defender's transmission was over heating, resulting in reduced power. So that the car could preserve the transmission.
What usually causes the transmission to overheat?
@@kennysakala4839 Sometimes excess load - either the weight or the weight coupled with the gradient of the terrain. Some manufacturers don't put it in as much cooling as say the aftermarket because they are subtly trying to cut down on production costs.
Nope neither of these needs a resistor between the brake switch and the brake controller of the caravan ecu gets confused and goes into reduced power mode. Had the same issue on a discovery 4.
High class top gear video
That’s so cool I’d love to have that combo
A Defender should not be 'perfect comfort' - sacrilege. I have been in Defenders a lot all my life, and 'perfect comfort' is a phrase that has never come to mind in one.
really enjoyed that!
The Defender really does look excellent on those steel wheels
Fantastic episode!
Bucket list stuff 👍😉
21 of June...definetely means a lot. The weather looks as if it's 21 November.
If you want amazing offroad caravans, Australia makes them! Bruder, Track Trailer, Lotus to name a few. And the camper trailers are bloody good as well, we have a CUB and it is fantastic. They are probably a bit much for many parts of mainland UK or Europe, but pair them with a reliable 4x4 and you can go most places (i.e. Landcruiser/Prado/Patrol etc).
The Bruders are pretty sweet! 😊
Don't forget Patriot Campers with their fleet of cars and trailers
This would be perfect target practice for light artillery
A Bruder EXP6/8 paired with and LC200 is my ultimate dream!
Wow!! Just Amazing💯💯❤❤🔥🔥
This is awesome trailer 😊
Very cool 👍🏻
It is a Discovery really. Just one without the styling of a bathtub. But great to see that the Landy build is still as incoherent as the old ones (not a LR hater either, I have a 90 truck cab, but still a realist).
In Canada, had considered getting a 110 but seeing all the electronic issues really scared me off. Too bad, such a good looking vehicle and has some decent off-road performance. Ended up with a much cheaper, but more reliable Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road. Even with all the aftermarket add ons (steel front bumper with 10K lbs winch, Toyo 285/70/17 AT3 C Load tires, 2” suspension lift, replacement UCA, Sherpa roof rack, additional skid/diff plates, lights, auxiliary switch panel, etc.) I’m still ahead $25K! Granted it doesn’t get the best mpg’s now, it is fun to drive, been great off road, no electronic / mechanical issues at all. When it has snowed in the last few weeks, people don’t want to drive anywhere, whereas I can’t wait to get out there … lol. If Landrover improves reliability (heard recent issues with having it towed, has to be flatbed towed) I might consider a change in 3 yrs. BUT, now Toyota has the new Landcruiser coming out and the 4Runner next gen coming out next year. Exciting times for folks that like these vehicles for on and off-roading.
very nice!
6:45 This is a very interesting comment because in MY head, this Defender has always been much more of a Discovery than any of the new Discoverys. I expected it to be more like a Wrangler or the new Bronco than another luxurious road house thing.
It's nice seeing a Top Gear car/trailer video with no drifting for a change.
That caravan is actually pretty sick
I recognized the sunshine cycles logo immediately. Hello from Watkinsville, Ga!
This trailer is the best.
You have one of the most capable trailers in the world - shame you didnt go offroad and pull it up rocks etc - thats really what people want to see. If you're driving down an A-Road you might as well get a Ford F350 and pull a 40ft Fifth Wheel. Next time actually take it through streams / up mountains / through woods etc. Thats the only reason you would spend the insane money on a Bruder. And the Defender isnt exactly cheap either when kitted out with the necessary options. Off-road 4x4!!!!!
Even us in Africa miss Jeremy and his mate's show what a guy!
damn this was an old recording to come in december with the shortest day coming in a few days
Bruder is awesome.
is it just me or, the sky is the perfect match with the scenery
What a Beautiful landscape to share in a Beautiful All terrain Tata
It's not a safari
wow!! good
it's such a shame that land rovers are so terrible to own. They are amazing cars, so capable and so comfortable. But so prone to issues.
I thought it was just range rovers that had the reliability issues? I thought jaguars and Land Rovers don’t have the issue
They are not terrible to own. Most Land Rover owners replace their Land Rover with...another Land Rover.
Anyone I know who own’s a Rover loves it. Only a few of my friends/fam but still, they seem to love em’.
@@Alan_Mac i've owned one :) it was terrible.
@@allenjs2976 range rovers are land rover products. they all share parts
Did you lock off the air suspension into non-load-sharing mode to reduce pitching? And set the ride height to that of the towcar? Also, that chain...it's there to be hitched to the car s if the towball fails the trailer is still attached by a safety chain. Or maybe it doesn't work like that in the UK? Load sharing/non-load sharing explained here kzhead.info/sun/m9uOZahtramIpJs/bejne.html
Really cool video! I’m not into caravanning the slightest, but now I want this thing with a 110 to tow it :) Must have been the location, Scotland is always a plus, no matter what the weather is like.. One thing: it’s filmed beautifully, the location is top notch and the story is nice and original. But watching it becomes a bit annoying because of the somewhat irritating background noises. Whoever put that in..?
I really, really want that trailer
The AeroPress tumbler at 00:29 😎
I like it
Dejavu before it's even on Dave ja vu. Haven't top gear raced the sun on the solstice before, in a British heritage make, from coast to coast 🤔🤣 POWERRRRRRR! Also don't try and pass off bad producer planning with "I think the landscape suits this cloudy weather", when you've gone there to watch the sunset 😎🤣
When the trailer has better off road tires than the Defender:
for extra traction :-)
A very enjoyable video do we have any UK manufacturers that make similar products?
Yeah that trailer is something else.
That thing looks like a TANK
What a beautiful trailer, next time use a lexus or a land cruiser
Saw a Bruder in Western Australia north of Perth last Spring (looked awesome) was being towed by a Range Rover Sport! (From UK)
Now that's a well matched combination. One has been built to withstand the harsh outback conditions. The other is.................. a Land Rover.
It's ok keep the chickens in 😍
Butiful ❤❤❤
Classic Land Rover lol Peugeot electrical components coming into play!
77 grand and a bloody red light.! At Tebay.! I've driven around there in Series II with trailer with bullocks in it and no red lights. (Let's be honest. It did sometimes overheat on hills, but not too often. 😉) (And.. For info.. A Series II was Landrover's offering in about 1969.)
I had a series III 109” ex water board. Amazingly reliable and tenacious. Never failed to work. It’s a shame the brand took such a knock after sale to BMW.
At £140k for a trailer, it should be special 🤯
Nice video enjoyed that. I live in Aus now and caravans are big business here - that little monster would be very popular! You didn’t mention the price which is presumably because it’s quite pokey! (And can we please stop banging on about Clarkson, Hammond and May - they had their time and they’re doing their thing very well elsewhere)
I live in Australia and I think if it doesn't have an air con, it’s not going to be very popular.
@@Roo-kf5xi He said it did have aircon
@@Roo-kf5xi it does have aircon
@@Roo-kf5xi It has air con, a pressurised cabin and an exterior which insulates the cabin from the extreme temperatures of the Australian Outback (rated to 50 degrees I believe).
Well said. Clarkson et al have had their time. Just bloody boring now.
“It is so big and strong.” - he said it and I heard what he said for sure.
Woooow
So much money to buy and have issues already... better a land cruiser;)
You'd need to be in Shetland to get to the most northerly tip of the UK
‘Mainland UK’ is what they said.
The winter solstice will be on the 21st this week, December to.
I want One of those trailers
Every Australian be like "yea nar!"
I’m building my own for behind my hummer. So far I’m at 25k all used stuff and custom built. Mine only sleeps 2 separately. I also made a garage for my work stuff.
Anxiety doesn’t happen in a Patrol or a Cruiser…
The old Mud Terrains on the van and highway yes on the car fail. For proper off-road vans look to Australia for Kimberley Karavans etc. Never heard of Bruder in Aus.
One of the best off road caravans and I mean offfffff road in Australia
Here in Australia, Brüder Caravans are definitely not very common due to their price and the fact they are made for extreme off-road duties. I own a Kimberley Kampers Kruiser S-Class and it is a very capable off-road vehicle and could probably go most places the EXP-6 can, and dare I say it has more interior space. Also, tow it with a Nissan Y62 Patrol - much prefer the 3T 5.6L V8 to that short wheelbase Defender.
Apparently, carrying a coffee makes anyone more relatable.
Am dozing off 💤😂😂😂
i love the defender but the reliability issue is holding me back , I'm good with my rav4
8:22 umm.. guys, not sure what the laws are over there but pretty sure the chain shouldn't be hooked like that.. 👀👀 Did vehicle design team forget a seperate spot to attach the chain or was someone on top gear staff and to set up the trailer.. but didn't know how to? 🤔 I've been on many trips to the outback & you learn pretty quickly how important following safety guidelines are!
Tell me you don't know how to hook up a trailer/ caravan without telling me, jingle these big heavy chains that aren't hooked to shit just looped over the tow bar
My dream life
Clic canal. Escuchar a lista : 🎧
What season and ep is this from
I know its always been a 90 but honestly it would be better as 100", more usable space inside and it would tow better.
The short-wheelbase New Defender's wheelbase is actually 101.9". They just use the old numbers for nostalgic purposes.
@@SmallBlogV8 really! Perhaps they should have made it 110…….oh wait. I have a saying, if it looks right it usually is right, it don’t look right #shortarse
Longer Version : Defender 130 + Bruder EXP-8. Nice.
21st of June is actually the shortest day of the year. It does have the most daylight hours which is where the confusion lays.
He said 21st of June ? 1:30
@@xzstvr which is actually the shortest day of the year . He was incorrect in the video.
@@kinseyeire ohh sorry yeah, ur right. I didn't read properly. Thanks for clearing it up
Please like this so top gear see it. Dear top gear please know the reason for the reduced power is due to not having a resistor between the brake switch and the brake controller for the caravan. Had the same issue with a discovery 4. Love from Australia.
This is the first real use of the bruder I’ve seen and it doesn’t even sniff the dirt 😂 Also you were probably overheating the turbo going up the hills
the ecu map should keep it within limits and the engine shouldn't be in production at a higher output than it can sustain without overheating?
@@mb106429 I speak from experience! Luckily under warranty
@@donkingdonkey4764what car
@@RohanSanjith Range Rover HSE
@@donkingdonkey4764 he def overheated that trailer's aggregate trailer mass is 3.5 tons
Why is this man talking a mix between James May and Jeremy Clarksons accents?
Forth Bridge (the rail one that is painted red), not the Forth Road Bridge (which is one of the ones that takes cars)
I do like the new gen Defender, it does look butch and macho. But £77,000? I'm not so sure. I rather buy a used Range Rover.
True is very expensive,,,,, better off with a range rover
77 grand and bloody red light.! At Tebay.! I've driven around there in Series II with trailer with bullocks in it and no red lights. (Let's be honest. It did sometimes overheat on hills. But not too often. 😉)
Yes yes, butch and macho. Kinda like the Village People. 😂
Wheres all the threes.haha
The Bruder is way overkill for the UK as I know it. It is better suited to more rugged tacks such as Australia Outback and the western US. Many of the tracks I have traveled in the western US are like driving down a dry river bed. I wonder if people are more interested in status or functionality in a tow rig and caravan? I initially looked at a Bruder EXP-6 but now looking at several others manufactured in the US.
There will be no video like this if may, jeremy, or hammond still around. No scratch that hammond will prolly do and host this video lol
What about you install a load leveller and stabiliser as I did
What's the use of such beefy tires on a trailer? I get it for the axles of the car, but the trailer is just being towed behind the car so why does it need to have such grippy tires?
I would say: Bigger tyre = longer tread footprint = more flotation = less drag on soft surfaces. Ideal would be the same type and bolt pattern so you can use them on your truck as well and swap spares. But for us in Europe it doesn't really matter i guess.
Bring them back
I have seen these Aussie off-road campers before and they look really kool. But like a lot of these tiny spaces; where do you go poo? I am in my late 50's and need that vital space regularly and a lot of these campers simply don't have them. Or, if they do, they have those ridiculous little porta loo's that you'd need scaffolding to get on or off......
The Defender is basically towing a Rivian R1T
The trailer weighs 7100lbs?
@@migueljardim8177 yes
There was a U.K. manufacturer of Offroad caravans, but the U.K. market didn’t get what they were about and didn’t want to spend the £60k price tag for one. I understand they couldn’t keep going.
This is double that.
Seriously a snipe on the TRIO. Huh
That music did my head in. Who on earth did the editing.
What did you think? it´s a Land Rover ..............................
how many were sold?
Cross the chains in an X under the trailer tongue so if it comes off the chains catch it from hitting the ground