Is the 2023 Land Rover TReK Defender 130 an Even Better Off-Road Machine?

TReK Defender 130s are a unique bunch of Land Rover Defender SUVs outfitted specifically for the challenges of the Defender TReK event. What is a Defender TReK, and what does a Land Rover Defender need in order to compete in this intriguing event?

TReK traces its roots back to the days of the Camel Trophy , an event where driving teams pitted their abilities and those of Land Rover vehicles against one another in some of the globe's more rugged corners. Years after ending the Camel Trophy event, Trek was born in 1996 seemingly in its honor. Like its predecessor, Trek brought together teams consisting of Land Rover employees—not necessarily professional off-road drivers—and subjected them to a series of vehicle-based tasks and trials designed to test their skills as a team as well as their behind-the-wheel acumen. Tasks could range from fashioning a bridge to simulating first aid to driving a Land Rover over and through obstacles. Land Rover vehicles used by the teams were similarly outfitted for the event.

In recent years, TReK has visited various U.S. off-road locations, and media teams have joined the Land Rover dealership employees. We'd love to wax on about our personal experiences with Trek and the competition's rules, but instead, let's look at the high-zoot machines (read: apocalypse-ready Defender 130 SUVs ) used by all competitors during the Defender Trek event.

Building The TReK Defender 130

Each team competing in TReK uses a Land Rover Defender 130 P400 SE outfitted with a suite of upgrades to help it prevail over unforgiving terrain and accomplish tasks unique to the TReK event. No powertrain changes are made, as the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six makes plenty of power and the Defender's four-wheel-drive system delivers it to the dirt in a seamless fashion. "Building" a TReK Defender 130 is instead more of a "bolt-on" affair.

Defender 130 Winch: Not Just For Recovery

Winches are commonly used to help pull a stuck vehicle out of a predicament. During TReK, the winch is often used for other, far more creative tasks. For example, dragging a small log in a convoluted pattern across flat ground with the help of snatch blocks and other rigging tools. Challenges within the TReK event often test the teamwork and problem-solving skills of drivers and teams instead of the winch's extreme load-moving capacities. But first, how easy is it to put a winch on a Defender? Answer from someone who has installed a winch on a late-model Land Rover product: not easy. Achieving the sleek look of a behind-the-bumper winch setup requires a thorough dismantling of the front fascia. The Warn VR winch is spooled with synthetic rope (with many benefits over wire line) and can be operated with a wireless remote so users don't have to wriggle their fingers inside the bumper to actuate the winch controls.

Tires: Better Bring Your Patch Kit

Low-profile tires in off-road scenarios often mean bad news. There is little sidewall available to protect the wheel from damage, ride quality can be reduced over rough surfaces, and lowering the tire pressure to improve traction must be done sparingly. So why do off-road vehicles come with 20-inch wheels and thin tires? Large wheels accommodate brawny brakes. All Land Rover TReK Defender 130 vehicles used 255/60 20-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires and came stocked with a full-size spare. Running a tire like this in off-road terrain can carry additional risk of punctures, sidewall damage, or worse. Despite the TReK event's unforgiving terrain, we witnessed no tire damage, though teams were warned to diligently mind their speed over rough obstacles.

Traction Boards and Other Accessories

Land Rover TReK Defender 130s are adorned with off-road jewelry, which isn't all for show. No, the spare fuel in the jerrycans doesn't often get used, and the shovels generally remain affixed to their mounting points, but it is common for TReK competitors (as well as off-road enthusiasts) to put their traction boards and roof racks to work. Traction boards—in this case, MaxTrax Recovery Tracks—can be secured to the Defender 130 using many aftermarket mounting systems.

Antique Farm Equipment for the TReK Defender 130

In lieu of your common scissor or bottle jack, TReK Defender 130s bear a large and antiquated piece of agricultural machinery: the farm jack. This device is used to raise a vehicle much farther off the ground than typical jacks are capable of and can double as a pulling tool, in similar style to a hand winch. Vehicles must feature hard points capable of receiving the jack for it to work. Thankfully, the TReK Defender 130 bears more than a few of those points.

Defender 130 Armor

Critics might leer at the Defender 130's rear overhang and subsequent departure angle, a measurement it shares with the Toyota Tundra (at least until the Defender's air suspension raises in off-road mode). The Defender 130's wheelbase also might appear lengthy until the tape measure reveals it is within 0.5 inch of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited's. To that end, the TReK Defender is equipped with stout rocksliders to protect its rocker panels from the terrain below.

Do These Upgrades Help Off-Road?

When considering ride quality, all-terrain tires and a raised air suspension can decrease your comfort aboard a vehicle. When the suspension is raised, the travel at each corner is limited, and drivers will encounter the bump stops sooner than when the suspension is in its normal (read: low) position. The Land Rover Defender 130's off-road features do significantly improve traction and ground clearance, and its situation-specific intuitive Terrain Response system is tailored to perform in many challenging off-road situations. Similarly, a vehicle with a winch, armor, and additional gear is naturally more prepared for the unknown when traveling in the bush.

How To Get a TReK Defender

The Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles used in the TReK event are built and owned by Land Rover dealerships and usually make their way onto the sales floor. If you're lucky enough to find one, be prepared for a ticket into the six-figure range for the Santorini Black four-by. Similarly, you can accessorize your Defender 130 P400 SE in TReK fashion with help from aftermarket parts.