So much to reply to - sorry it's taken me awhile to get back to this thread.
Cargo room: I'm having a hard time seeing in my mind's eye how it can be less than a Discovery. Even if all the extra room of the longer wheelbase went into the back seat, couldn't I fold down that back seat and make a LOT more room than a Disco? The other thing is with the gate, I can carry longer things than with the Disco's rear door - the window doesn't open so I can't stick anything out the back. I know it's shorter inside, but I've almost never used all the interior height of the back of the D1 - with the spare wheel and tire removed, is there really that much less room than a Disco with 7 seats?
Defender high-cap pickup... oh man, dream on.
Hannibal rack vs SD rack - good tip!
Elias - the idea of a work truck plus Mamba is a good idea... 'cept you know where I live - my neighbors would hate me!
Plus I think my wife's patience would wear pretty thin if we had more than one truck around for anything over a month. She is NOT keen on the idea of having three cars! I've been keeping an eye peeled for a decent one needing heads or something, spotted this in the Bev, needs a water pump but otherwise looks pretty nice.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/3963554370.html
Price is a bit high though. Maybe they could be convinced to come down on it a bit.
I don't really need or want a trailer. I REALLY don't want a full-size pickup/SUV - if I did, I'd be looking at the F150 Raptor instead of an excursion (ugh).
I know it seems like madness to consider going from a newer rover to an older one that I know less about. ...but Mamba is 14 years old. The difference between 14 years and 19 years - is that really so much? I either need to get something much newer, or get something that I definitely want to keep forever, build it up exactly how I want it from the ground up - with longevity in mind, and keep it strong. If I were to keep the D1 forever, I'd need to do a lot to it. Aluminum wheels or a new set of steelies with a better powder coat, some body work to remove rust around the rear windows, new window seals, an undercarriage powerwash and probably a coat of something to keep rot at bay, new tires, new paint, some interior love, a new and better camshaft, an LT230, rear locker, HD axles, new suspension (want to go to a 3"), and the front and rear bumpers are getting rusty - they'll need to be removed, bead-blasted, and re-powdercoated or replaced with some new fab work.
Part of the reason an RRC is appealing to me is the idea of building my dream truck from the beginning. I'd love a cammed 4.6, electronic ignition, 3" lift, 35's, full size rack, TT front and rear, HD axles, DC driveshaft, bumpers, new winch... I could make it a beast. ...Doesn't seem like a helluva lot more than I need to do on Mamba anyhow, does it, even if I have to fix some other things along the way? Whereas if I stuck with the D1, would I always be left wanting a rear gate and 10" more of wheelbase - something I can't fix?
The more I think about it, the more I want an empty frame and body that I can start painting, coating, and bolting things onto one at a time until I've built the truck of my dreams. I may not have a full-service shop like Elias does... but I DO have a garage, and a parking space, and a 15,000 sq ft workshop that would make most of your jaws drop where I can build damned near anything.
Elias... you may be right. I shouldn't spend thousands on an RRC. I should keep Mamba for the foreseeable future, and a Costco trip's worth on a body and frame to keep parked at the shop, and start something EPIC!