A commonly used 4×4 camping vehicle is the Land Rover Defender. You see them driving on the off-road routes in many shapes and sizes. Despite being a very strong car, all Defenders together have one big enemy: water. That’s pretty interesting considering they can ride through the roughest terrain and take the heaviest blows. As an owner, you will therefore definitely have to deal with a leak somewhere.
Although we often laugh about it, it is useful to tackle a leak as soon as possible. One of the places where a Land Rover Defender can leak very annoyingly is the roof. We give some tips to solve the problem as quickly as possible so that you keep it dry inside even during wet camping trips.
How to tell if your roof is leaking
Leaks can come from anywhere, but a leaking roof has very typical spots where wet spots occur. You probably have a leak in your roof when you encounter the following symptoms:
- A wet seat belt – If your seat belt is soaked in water, it could be because the roof is leaking at the bolt where your seat belt is attached to the body. This bolt is next to the headrest. The water enters at the seam and drips into the belt through the bolt.
- Wet/Dark Spots in the Roof Lining – One of the most obvious signs of a leaking roof is wet or dark spots in the roof lining.
- Wet spots on the car mats – Water that enters through the roof sometimes runs through the internal gutter trough the A-frame towards your car mats. A puddle of water will then form there. Note that a puddle on your car mat is not always the cause of a leaking roof. It can also be dried out door seals, for example.
Causes of a leaking Land Rover Defender roof
It is a common problem and often caused by cracks in the roof sealant. The various pieces of aluminum that make up the roof of a Defender are bonded together during production with this sealant. Over time, it will wear out and cracks will appear in it. It is a common problem with any Land Rover Defender of age and it is difficult to fix.
How to waterproof the roof of a Defender
Follow the plan to make the roof watertight if it leaks.
Step 1 – Cleaning
Start by cleaning all the seams on the roof. The seams are easy to find when looking from above. There should be three large seams. The image below shows where the seams are located with arrows. The seams of the gutters are also indicated.
Clean the roof thorougly and use a toothbrush to remove small dirt and peeling paint residues as well. Then degrease all parts thoroughly and make sure the surface is spotless
Step 2. Masking
Apply masking tape along the seams to protect the rest of the roof. After all, you want the sealant that we are going to apply in step three only ends up in the seams and not the other way around. The more carefully you do this, the less you have to clean afterward.
Step 3. Sealing
Let the sealant run into the seams. You can use different brands for this as long as it concerns a polymer kit. For example, you can take the Hightack kit from Soudal or a Sikaflex 291i kit. In addition to the kit, also keep a bottle of white spirit close to you to remove any residue quickly and effectively. Run the sealant over the seams and work the sealant into the seams with a brush or simply with your finger. Be sure to immediately remove any residue with white spirit before the sealant dries. The same goes for the masking tape.
Step 4. Dry
Sealants can take up to two weeks to dry depending on ambient temperature. The exact curing time is often stated on the packaging of the sealant tube. Give the kit this time to harden slowly and drive as little as possible with the Defender during this period. The kit can already be water-resistant after 15 minutes. This is because the outer layer hardens first.
Wrapping it up
Most Land Rover Defenders have a leaky roof. Remember that when this happens to you, you are not the only one who sometimes finds yourself in the car with a raincoat. It is a problem that can be solved, but note that it is very difficult to get the Defender completely watertight. Land Rover has even put out a manual where they highlight every possible way to waterproof your Defender. This is called the ‘Land Rover Defender water ingress manual’ and you can find it by clicking on this link.
Do you have a Defender and do you also want to use it for overlanding? Maybe a roof tent is a good idea as a first step and you also like to read this post: The ultimate guide to install and using a roof tent for the first time
