I travelled in Africa with a couple in a LWB Land Rover Defender who were finishing a RTW trip with no real modifications and minimal luggage. Their vehicle was basically standard with a roof tent, roof rack with spare wheel and a few jerry cans.
Their luggage was carried in plastic boxes strapped down in the back, 2x20 litre water carriers and that was about it. The jerry cans were filled where diesel was cheap such as Iran or when it might be needed, outback Australia and the Sahara, the owner told me that by not carrying excessive amounts of fuel and water he had not needed to upgrade the suspension which lasted the whole two and a half year trip with nothing more than new rubber bushes two months before the end. He also said that the other 4WD owners he had spoken to who had extra fuel and water tanks plus other weighty and expensive extras had a lot more suspension problems.
My own experience on two wheels is similar, a lighter load causes less suspension and handling problems, for me anyway less is preferable.
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