I drove land Rovers for years, about 10 I think, and was happy enough, but I always had a second car. I final gave in when my back advised me that something a little more comfortable would perhaps be better. So I sold my 300Tdi LWB and got a Jeep Grand Cherokee, I was a bit wary at first but with suitable tyres I ended taking my Jeep everywhere I took my Defender and worse. I sold the Jeep and have now got a LWB Pajero, which is just an imported Shogun. The thing is I am willing to gamble that your average 4X4 is far more capable then your average 4X4 driver, and with suitable tyres pretty much any 4X4 of your choice will do the job.
If you are really determined I know where there might be a P registered Defender 300 Tdi pick up truck going. It has an Ifor williams truck top on it, has done less than 80,000 miles, got those fancy Rostyle wheels on it, it is even shiny or has the potential at least, and is just going for it's MOT. It belongs to an old farmer friend of mine, and has done less than a 1000 miles or so a year for the last 5 or 6 years. The bed in the back is pretty much unmarked it is exceptional really. The cab is like a tip, and he smokes, it usually gets driven down to his barn everyday to feed the cattle, round trip of about 4/500 yards. Last week he was talking about selling it and his Mercedes and getting a new Japanese pick up to replace the two of them, he was talking about £3000 for it. This was last week, this week it could be a new tup!
John