blackangie
Well-known member
Really good points, certainly these are a few points that have come up on the AU forum.(I will dig up the pics used) apologies no short response is possible on this one.
Firstly to be fair, we have to remember that these pilot builds have been at Moab for two weeks, and multiple independent third parties have been really impressed with how they are performing, this is on bigish wheels with street tyres at street pressures, and no doubt with coolers to left and the right of the radiator.
TYRE PROFILE
In one of the early FJfester videos tire size is seen and it is a 32 inch tyre. With all that space in the guards moving into a 34 would be a easy as pie. Wheel size does not particularly matter rather the profile of the tire does.
6 or 7 in the sidewall is more than sufficient.
I doubt you would even need a lift rods, but if you do maybe a 1 or 2 inch to run 35s.
A better solution would be a subframe lift, which many don't realise this possible with the newer Land Rovers, in fact a 6 inch lift is now available for the RRS, RRVogue and D5.
Having said all that it looks like it runs just fine out of the factory like the current Defender.
COOLERS
The Engine oil cooler and auto cooler is an interesting one and one I believe to be another inovative JLR decision (Gwagon has also followed suit with the G550). For low temps and better performance in any conditions having rad, condenser, auto, cooler, engine oil cooler and in some cases intercooler infront all bunched in together just doesn't work.
I too had this dilemma with my LS RRC, couldn't cool it enough with the auto, engine oil cooler, condenser + water to air intercooler infront of the rad, i looked at what the SVR did and wanted to do the same as its just the best spot, but couldn't make it work.
Ended up with twin coolers on a subframe built by Les Richmond Automotive behind the bash plate with enough room for plate deformation, and twin spals.
Rad is fairly unobstructed now and works just to cool the engine water only.
Temps all around are always low now coupled with a few other things like bonnet scoop and side vents.
The twin lower coolers don't seem to get too muddy and fairly easy to wash if they do, however i really don't like them there, i wish they could be in exactly the same spot as the D5, but on an angle and bash guards.
Now assuming JLR are not messing with us with the pilot cooler vents, which i doubt they are.
Lets look at the D5 twin cooler location off-road suitability. See pics, approach angle with air is 34deg with 2 inch rods I'm guessing a few more degrees on that.
D5 put in offroad height and coolers are nice and high (see pics)
New Defender 45 deg approach, 50 deg depart (based on mule, alloy and grit angles)
Discovery 5 is 34 deg approach, 30 deg depart.
Nissan Y62 is 34.3deg approach, 26.2 depart.
Landcruiser 200 series is 30 deg approach, 20 depart.
When you look at the location of the coolers in offroad mode, I cant see a big problem, they are nice and high and with a good bar will be protected, ECB D5 bar has vents, but want to see a bar that removes the standard bumper.
Moving onto the new defender looking as though the approach angle is going to be an improvement again on the D5 and D5 is best in class, suffice to say it will be even more of a non issue and ensures it keeps its cool and all coolers to be cleaned.
ECB bull bars in Australia have already made a solution to protect it, however there are more in the works from ARB and Rhino 4x4.
The aftermarket will get behind the Defender and if the coolers are an issue they will make a bar to protect them and even possibly include a slight relocation Kit if needed.
Having said all that these coolers have been in these locations on modern Land Rovers since 2006 from memory and they all haven't been sucked into a black hole of troubles. Now if they didn't have air suspension like the G-Wagon it may be an issue, but LRs have air suspension and great approach angles and when they are in their highest mode they are tucked right up high out of the way.
Lucky 8 seem to have no issues with their D5 in the 2019 winter romp vid, they're running the standard D5 bumper with a discreet winch mount.
Looking at the picture below from of the Defender from American announcement video, the cooler opening actually looks a lot smaller than on the moab pilots, so I'm guessing the big vents in moab videos are intended to deceive.
For me I will still be wanting to protect them and we'll get a bullbar with a winch mount as soon as it becomes available, Kangaroos jump out at you when you least expect it in Australia I'm sure there are animals that do the same in the states and other areas. Most people that wheel their currant Defender get a winch bar of some kind, I can see a trend of bar work becoming less necessary in the future with discrete winch mounts and the like, how about people like myself and you will no doubt want additional protection and the after market will provide
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