Found a low mileage 2009 LR3 but it does not have the HD option with locking rear differential. LR sales person insists that the traction control system in a Land Rover will handle almost anything regardless, and of course it seems hard to find a model with the HD option as many folks do not go off road. Intended use is mild to med off road at best in this case (no rock crawling, but gravel and limited mud and water bars). Appreciate any thoughts on this from folks who are more familiar with LR in off road situations. Will no locking diff make a significant difference or will the TC work as well as the sales person indicates?
2009 LR3 with no locking rear diff. Is TC good enough for offroad?
- Thread starter GHR
- Start date
LR Max
Local Oaf
From what I've seen from there newer vehicles with Traction Control, you'll be fine. Heck the TC in the D2 trucks is VERY good.
Just remember that if you are in a situation that you know you want your traction control to work (i.e. you are stopped on a steep hill climb), keep your RPMs constant. Keeping the engine speed the same lets the computer know that it needs to kick in the TC. Then it'll kick in and drag your truck up. Since you aren't rock crawling or mud bogging or doing something stupid like I would, I think TC will allow you to get through those few tough spots you encounter. Just remember you can't drive it the same, drive it so that you are working with the TC and the truck will get you through the tough spots.
Also remember with TC is that it won't be as fast. Getting through obstacles takes longer when compared to a fully locked up rig. So work with the TC, and give it time, and the truck will do what you want it to.
Just remember that if you are in a situation that you know you want your traction control to work (i.e. you are stopped on a steep hill climb), keep your RPMs constant. Keeping the engine speed the same lets the computer know that it needs to kick in the TC. Then it'll kick in and drag your truck up. Since you aren't rock crawling or mud bogging or doing something stupid like I would, I think TC will allow you to get through those few tough spots you encounter. Just remember you can't drive it the same, drive it so that you are working with the TC and the truck will get you through the tough spots.
Also remember with TC is that it won't be as fast. Getting through obstacles takes longer when compared to a fully locked up rig. So work with the TC, and give it time, and the truck will do what you want it to.
I have a 2006 without the rear locking diff. I have done everything that others in the club have done with the locking diff. Here is a video of a 2005 running Holcomb Creek/Lower Larga in Big Bear, Ca. The 2005 has the locking diff. I went through without any problems. The truck in the video also ran the Rubicon without the locking diff. He added it afterwards. Not an inexpensive ordeal by the way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcRcy3vR6mY&hd=1
The sales team at Land Rover should be retrained to sell the HD package on every LR4. For $750 it can make a huge difference when you loose traction on two wheels. The traction control is great but does take some seat time to figure out. Rock crawling is the hardest thing to do with the LR3. Everytime you tap the brakes it will reset the the traction control. If you don't tap the brakes then you end up coming down too quickly over some rocks and hitting your sliders or under armor. Again, technique is imperative with any vehicle, a little more so with the LR3. On all other surfaces, mud, gravel, snow and sand, it just seams to work.
I always though that if you want a rock crawler get a Jeep. If you want to go on an adventure and do it extremely comfortably, get the LR3!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcRcy3vR6mY&hd=1
The sales team at Land Rover should be retrained to sell the HD package on every LR4. For $750 it can make a huge difference when you loose traction on two wheels. The traction control is great but does take some seat time to figure out. Rock crawling is the hardest thing to do with the LR3. Everytime you tap the brakes it will reset the the traction control. If you don't tap the brakes then you end up coming down too quickly over some rocks and hitting your sliders or under armor. Again, technique is imperative with any vehicle, a little more so with the LR3. On all other surfaces, mud, gravel, snow and sand, it just seams to work.
I always though that if you want a rock crawler get a Jeep. If you want to go on an adventure and do it extremely comfortably, get the LR3!
Colin Hughes
Explorer
Yes, and I'll likely get flogged for adding, the LR3 is just about as capable if not better than a Defender offroad. We have seen more rear end issues coming through our shop with LR3's with the HD package as opposed to those without. We've taken customers out on trails with stock trucks and watched the mouths of Jeep guys with 33" tires and lockers drop when they see what these truck can get through.
My advise is to hold out for the HD Package. I reluctantky passed on many very nice non-hd lr3s, but after 3 months of searching I finally found my perfect lr3 with the three must have options I would settle without: black interior, cold pkg, hd pkg.....added bonus was mine also has the lux package.
Hold out and search the internet daily. I must have called my dealer over 150 times to check vin numbers for me to determine he package or not. The perfect lr3 is out there for you, just be patient
Hold out and search the internet daily. I must have called my dealer over 150 times to check vin numbers for me to determine he package or not. The perfect lr3 is out there for you, just be patient
Colin Hughes
Explorer
If you are committed to wait for one with an HD pkg, also check the front end and see if the air suspension compressor has ever been replaced. If it hasn't, budget for it. We keep two in stock at any one time as they fail on such a regular basis. Couple shots of a customer in his LR3, first time ever offroad. 
nwoods
Expedition Leader
I'm on my phone so can't paste links or find other info very easily. Search for a couple things here on ExPo, using these terms "LR3 Resource" and "sbrady" and "nwoods". In THAT thread, I posted a link to a very robust thread about the LR3's Offroad capability with photos, examples, and a link to a video from Australia about a hill climb called something like "Tsagarwa" or something like that. That video and the other info in my thread will answer your question. It's important that you focus on fact and not opinion. There are LOTS of well meaning, but completely inaccurate opinions out there about the LR3. For example, the comparison in THIS thread to the D2's traction control is a bit like comparing the USS Constitution (old iron sides) to a modern day aircraft carrier. Both boats with metal on them, but virtually nothing else in common or capability
huskyfargo
Adventurer
If you like the truck, go for it. I don't have the HD package in my LR3, but there's nowhere I haven't been able to go. I switched out the 19" wheels for 18" and put on some more aggressive tires, which made a world of difference regarding traction. In stock form my LR3 has been far more reliable and capable than the 08 Rubicon Unlimited which it replaced. This is my favorite truck ever!
Mine was packaged the exact same. Basically every single option they had for the year (except the dealer installed DVD which I didn't want).
And yes I have seen a jeep and toyota pickup on 40's getting stuck everywhere (and they looked like they knew what they were doing)- our little old LR3's on 32" tires just walked right through it. The look on their faces were priceless.
Mine included the two headrest DVD monitor package as well, though have yet to use either of them