24-hour sand driving record in a Discovery 5

[naks]

24 Hour sand driving record in a Land Rover Discovery 5 - Leisure Wheels

Can you drive a modern-day 4x4 for 24 hours no stop on a sandy off-road track. There was only one way to find out.

www.leisurewheels.co.za

"... As the clock returned to 16h00 in the afternoon the odometer clicked over to 533km. We had managed to do 533kms in the 24 hours or 53 laps of the Vleesbaai 4×4 route. That figure is negligible, most importantly we drove a brand new, stock standard Land Rover Discovery for 24 hours, in sand, without major incident, in comfort and on the same four tyres that we started. Quite an incredible achievement we think.
Over the course of the record run the Discovery averaged around 30 litres/100km, using just under 160 litres, which is actually not bad at all, given the conditions it was subjected to.

Was it hard work, yes most certainly. Could we have pushed the car harder and gone a bit further? Probably, but breaking cars is no fun. That evening we reinflated the four tyres, deployed all seven seats and drove to dinner and the following day we did the return 400km trip to Cape Town. The record setter morphing back into an impeccable highway cruiser.

530km might not sound like much, it is less than a trip from Johannesburg to Durban, but that is on a highway. This is in sand. And driving in sand is a whole other ball game. ..."

 

[DieselRanger]

Another carefully curated off-road course overseen by hordes of special support people and vehicles off camera waiting with the necessary winches and craft service tables full of bonbons and such.

 

[EricTyrrell]

LR has always produced vehicles that can take you anywhere when the planets and stars are aligned. However, they now also manage to make the experience as uninspiring as possible. The majority of the kind of people that live and work the outdoors look at this, and its sister the luxury Defender, and see right through the marketing manicured masquerades. They'll continue buying trucks, Jeeps, UTVs, and (I'd wager) the new Bronco, and LR will best left wondering why no one buys their forgettable and problematic products.

 

[Victory_Overland]

Insert broken record (that's the level of technology) comments by @EricTyrrell here!

 

[EricTyrrell]

Insert broken record (that's the level of technology) comments by @EricTyrrell here!

The brand new vehicles that I mentioned are phonograph technology? Ok.

You've missed the point entirely. Where's the response to this article? To the D5? To all LR's previous sponsored stunts (like driving it up flights of stairs)? Crickets... No one cares. They see right through it. They canceled the SVX, their only plan to wake people up from the D5 snoozefest.

Search this forum (or others) for non-sponsored people doing something with a D5. Crickets.

You searched for discovery - Expedition Portal

The Land Rover Discovery is a popular choice for overlanding on our forum with recent examples including this 1997, 1999, and 2004. Generally speaking, the Discovery is an affordable alternative to the Defender despite offering many of the same 4WD credentials and a more luxurious

expeditionportal.com

Discovery - Search - Four Wheeler Network

Search Discovery at Four Wheeler Network

www.fourwheeler.com

discovery site:overlandjournal.com - Google Search

Search - discovery - The Overlander Forum

www.theoverlander.org

Alloy + Grit

North America's Independent Land Rover Journal

www.alloyandgrit.com

Search - Off-Road.com

...

www.off-road.com

You searched for discovery - OutdoorX4

OutdoorX4 - Promoting Responsible 4×4 Adventure Travel & Outdoor Recreation

outdoorx4.com

You searched for discovery - OVERLAND magazine

overlandmag.com

Search Results | WhichCar

www.whichcar.com.au

You searched for discovery - Unsealed 4X4

www.unsealed4x4.com.au

Other than product launches, it's radio silence. Non one is doing anything interesting with them.
Ok, JackW has one, and presumably uses it. Kingsley drives a couple D5s around Africa. I would too if they were given to me for free.

They're selling them though. I'm sure moms love em.

Anyways, this article highlights a fun experience, but comes off as a sad reminder of how they only seem to be used for anything interesting when someone is given one for free in an attempt to say "no really guys, it can still go offroad".

 

[Victory_Overland]

There are about 4 or 5 guys on this exact forum that are doing some great things with the D5; you're telling my Lucky8 is just tinkering with what they did with D5 and what they will do with D110. SVO: niche market......sales and marketing 101 man......

Funny how anytime its a LR test or promo its smoke and mirrors when when all the Jeepsters, Yota boys drive from the mall to the mountains and the desert for an overnight glamping trip, you're providing some exception of evidence of proven technology in your eyes.

Funny thing is, I go on other forums like Jeep and Yota sites to include their pages here and not one person has acted like a negative Nancy like yourself for assistance in upgrading and innovating my LR3 with like designs and kit they modified.

I'll say it again man, you're a broken record of negativity on this site and others (yeah you have a consistent track record) while others are making ******** happen and are looking for forward progress on their rigs or the community. You just got done posting on another member's thread questioning what and why he is doing with an engine mod when he is providing legit knowledge to the community who may want to follow; like anyone owes you the time of day to explain was level of awesomeness they are working.

The sensationalism is old and tattered like your level of thought process and innovation for future tech.

Do some research on what Toyota punted into the stands with the LC200 and Prado! What about the long awaited Diesel V8 monster that was supposed to be the best engine on the planet for the LC UTEs, Wagons, and Troopies; lasted a couple of years and plagued with problems and got the axe. So LC200 and Prado have completely died on the vine because Toyota didn't close the gap and lack of sales crushed the NAS market.

Fact is they all have issues in every company and every country; Jeeps and Yotas and Ford and GM and JLR and blah blah blah are all producing awesome vehicles and fixing the for the most part the major problems that are taking on water. All serve a purpose and are built for a specific market share and not perfect for anyone in any aspect; just good enough in most cases.

Every company has done it; EVERY Company! Again, you have no clue how sales and marketing works; regardless of whether you agree with the strategies or not every company does it. Find 1, just 1 bone stock OEM vehicle that has gone through the same testing and put the challenges of the planet thus far and before full rate production with over 50 some vehicles.

The Jeep and Yota markets are saturated with sales and then immediately modified to make it better because the OEM came up short there as well. If that were not the case, why would anyone modify? But the fact is, the D5 and the Defender can do what most fully modified "Other" vehicles can do right off the dealer lot. Oh and they will get to the trail at 120mph in comfort, run the same MOAB, and like trails as all the other brands and just do it on stupid ass 19-20" rims. You know how many modified $60-70k Jeeps, Tacos, 4Runners I see cruising by my house everyday, $100k modified Raptors, F250/350 HD2500+? 99% of Rubicons will never see the Rubicon and yet they are completely modified like they are gonna run it every day. Search TRD on CL or Offerup and let me know how many TRD parts are for sale; but wait, those are Toyota Racing Development parts they should be perfect off the lot for anything?

Why waste so much time and energy on this site in the LR room fogging it up? I digress; where is the ignore button?

 

[nickw]

There are about 4 or 5 guys on this exact forum that are doing some great things with the D5; you're telling my Lucky8 is just tinkering with what they did with D5 and what they will do with D110. SVO: niche market......sales and marketing 101 man......

Funny how anytime its a LR test or promo its smoke and mirrors when when all the Jeepsters, Yota boys drive from the mall to the mountains and the desert for an overnight glamping trip, you're providing some exception of evidence of proven technology in your eyes.

Funny thing is, I go on other forums like Jeep and Yota sites to include their pages here and not one person has acted like a negative Nancy like yourself for assistance in upgrading and innovating my LR3 with like designs and kit they modified.

I'll say it again man, you're a broken record of negativity on this site and others (yeah you have a consistent track record) while others are making ******** happen and are looking for forward progress on their rigs or the community. You just got done posting on another member's thread questioning what and why he is doing with an engine mod when he is providing legit knowledge to the community who may want to follow; like anyone owes you the time of day to explain was level of awesomeness they are working.

The sensationalism is old and tattered like your level of thought process and innovation for future tech.

Do some research on what Toyota punted into the stands with the LC200 and Prado! What about the long awaited Diesel V8 monster that was supposed to be the best engine on the planet for the LC UTEs, Wagons, and Troopies; lasted a couple of years and plagued with problems and got the axe. So LC200 and Prado have completely died on the vine because Toyota didn't close the gap and lack of sales crushed the NAS market.

Fact is they all have issues in every company and every country; Jeeps and Yotas and Ford and GM and JLR and blah blah blah are all producing awesome vehicles and fixing the for the most part the major problems that are taking on water. All serve a purpose and are built for a specific market share and not perfect for anyone in any aspect; just good enough in most cases.

Every company has done it; EVERY Company! Again, you have no clue how sales and marketing works; regardless of whether you agree with the strategies or not every company does it. Find 1, just 1 bone stock OEM vehicle that has gone through the same testing and put the challenges of the planet thus far and before full rate production with over 50 some vehicles.

The Jeep and Yota markets are saturated with sales and then immediately modified to make it better because the OEM came up short there as well. If that were not the case, why would anyone modify? But the fact is, the D5 and the Defender can do what most fully modified "Other" vehicles can do right off the dealer lot. Oh and they will get to the trail at 120mph in comfort, run the same MOAB, and like trails as all the other brands and just do it on stupid ass 19-20" rims. You know how many modified $60-70k Jeeps, Tacos, 4Runners I see cruising by my house everyday, $100k modified Raptors, F250/350 HD2500+? 99% of Rubicons will never see the Rubicon and yet they are completely modified like they are gonna run it every day. Search TRD on CL or Offerup and let me know how many TRD parts are for sale; but wait, those are Toyota Racing Development parts they should be perfect off the lot for anything?

Why waste so much time and energy on this site in the LR room fogging it up? I digress; where is the ignore button?

Can't say I disagree! I don't put a lot of stock in peoples opinions that constantly bad mouth rigs, they are usually not the ones out actually doing anything worthwhile.

It's no different than my other hobbies, MTB and Dirt Biking....the guys moaning the most are the ones with too much time on their hands. The guys out riding, racing, training and getting after it don't give a &%(# what they are on....they are just happy to be out. Some of the fastest most excited guys are generally on bikes that are not ideal or sub par, they don't know better and couldn't care less....

Guys like this are the ones I'd listen too, if they had time to post

Amazing Pictures from Sjaak Lucassen's R1 World Tour

Stuck in African mud, buried in Saharan sand, or submersed in floodwater. Sjaak's long-suffering R1 clocked up 155,000 miles in five years. Here are just some of the amazing pictures Sjaak brought back.

motorcycle-diaries.com

And 100% - the Tacoma thing has gotta stop, 33's, fake beadlocks, bed rack with a RTT...it's gotta stop. I really wonder how many times those tents have been used...I hate judging, maybe they are heading out every afternoon....but we all know they are not and they don't.

 

[EricTyrrell]

You're off on all sorts of tangents buddy, fighting imaginary battles.

4 or 5 guys and Lucky8. lol, does that include the one I mentioned? You must be digging deep for those few, and if you have to dig that far, there might be a problem. Lucky8 is a vendor investing in a new and uncertain market, nothing more. It's adapt or die, (or sell Jeep parts) for them.

You seem to think I'm a Toyota or Jeep fanboy. Not quite. LC200 is a bloated pig designed for Arab Sheikhs. Unsurprisingly, not much of a market for it here. Yes, the diesel V8 was a lame duck. Call it like it is. I have little interest in either brand's products, however they own the relevant markets and I don't see LRs new products presenting an ounce of competition. Like I said, too little, too late.

If I appreciate any brand more than another these days, it's Ford. Other than the brotastic Raptor, they offer sensible products, and are about to step into the incumbents territory with the Bronco. Yes they still have issues, and global support is lacking.

As for the "other guy's thread", I offered advice, then asked for clarification when it wasn't clear which route he had gone. No criticism was involved.

It seems we share a disdain for "$60-70k Jeeps, Tacos, 4Runners ". Cheers.

Why "waste" my time here? I come for the photo threads, to offer advice where applicable, to tame you corporate cool-aid guzzlers, and to see what adventures people are up to, which brings me back to my original point. When it comes to LR's products and the overlanding/4x4 space, nobody seems to care unless they're offered a free toy to play with or a product launch sponsored vacation. After that, it's silence. If they want to stay afloat in the market they need to either get real or get out and focus on producing more Range Rover special editions.

 

[EricTyrrell]

Can't say I disagree! I don't put a lot of stock in peoples opinions that constantly bad mouth rigs, they are usually not the ones out actually doing anything worthwhile.

It's no different than my other hobbies, MTB and Dirt Biking....the guys moaning the most are the ones with too much time on their hands. The guys out riding, racing, training and getting after it don't give a &%(# what they are on....they are just happy to be out. Some of the fastest most excited guys are generally on bikes that are not ideal or sub par, they don't know better and couldn't care less....

Guys like this are the ones I'd listen too, if they had time to post

Amazing Pictures from Sjaak Lucassen's R1 World Tour

Stuck in African mud, buried in Saharan sand, or submersed in floodwater. Sjaak's long-suffering R1 clocked up 155,000 miles in five years. Here are just some of the amazing pictures Sjaak brought back.

motorcycle-diaries.com

And 100% - the Tacoma thing has gotta stop, 33's, fake beadlocks, bed rack with a RTT...it's gotta stop. I really wonder how many times those tents have been used...I hate judging, maybe they are heading out every afternoon....but we all know they are not and they don't.

Good point. Everywhere you look, all the "guys out riding, racing, training and getting after it" are doing it in every platform but LR's. What does that tell you?

 

[nickw]

Good point. Everywhere you look, all the "guys out riding, racing, training and getting after it" are doing it in every platform but LR's. What does that tell you?

There are several on here that do it, I personally have a couple buddies that are into Rovers that get after it...there are plenty, just gotta look beyond the Toyota forums...

 

[Victory_Overland]

Can't say I disagree! I don't put a lot of stock in peoples opinions that constantly bad mouth rigs, they are usually not the ones out actually doing anything worthwhile.

It's no different than my other hobbies, MTB and Dirt Biking....the guys moaning the most are the ones with too much time on their hands. The guys out riding, racing, training and getting after it don't give a &%(# what they are on....they are just happy to be out. Some of the fastest most excited guys are generally on bikes that are not ideal or sub par, they don't know better and couldn't care less....

Guys like this are the ones I'd listen too, if they had time to post

Amazing Pictures from Sjaak Lucassen's R1 World Tour

Stuck in African mud, buried in Saharan sand, or submersed in floodwater. Sjaak's long-suffering R1 clocked up 155,000 miles in five years. Here are just some of the amazing pictures Sjaak brought back.

motorcycle-diaries.com

And 100% - the Tacoma thing has gotta stop, 33's, fake beadlocks, bed rack with a RTT...it's gotta stop. I really wonder how many times those tents have been used...I hate judging, maybe they are heading out every afternoon....but we all know they are not and they don't.

Im in SoCal man; the MotoBro and MotoHoe Capital of the planet. Half these dudes traded in the dirt-bike they bought and put in the back of there truck as an ornament for a rack and RTT. Permanent fixtures of Glamping Glory now.

Is what it is but there is a lot of positive innovation on these sites followed up with the 1% who will always be right and always speak off emotion and not data.

On that note, Ford bought back my brand new, one of two in California Explorer Sport fully loaded every option vehicle because it was literally dangerous how bad the tech and electronic issues were. That was less than 5-7 years ago and my brother has a two year newer one with the exact same issues and Ford has been jerking him around because they do not have the same Lemon Laws where he was from. So Ford surely has its issues on many fronts; PS6.0 anyone, wait PS6.4.

Thats my point @EricTyrrell we can find a reason to bash any vehicle, I mean any vehicle that comes off the line if we look hard enough. I too am a Ford supported and they built a sh!tty and dangerous care and gave it to the public and tried to turn a blind eye. Some make it pretty easy for us in instances like that but seeing what they have done over the last 2-4 years is pretty awesome; hence why I do have my eye on a 4dr Bronc to help make sense of the cost conundrum I find myself in on the new D110.

Pick and chose where you want to put your efforts I guess; we all have a different viewpoint on life, kit, and tech.

 

[roving1]

Regardless of the make or model this was a pretty pointless endeavor. I would literally be more interested in pouring all the gas this took to do onto something and lighting it on fire and watching the flames.

 

[EricTyrrell]

There are several on here that do it, I personally have a couple buddies that are into Rovers that get after it...there are plenty, just gotta look beyond the Toyota forums...

Yes, I agree there are a few out there. That's the problem. Locally, I'm connected to every forum, FB group, club, etc related to Land Rover and/or off-road interests. There's zero activity with anything newer than 2004, and barely anything before that as people jump ship for better, newer offerings from other manufacturers. Let's look globally now. I listed numerous examples of publications and forums that cover what's going on in the off-road world. There's nearly zero coverage of anything Land Rover that isn't a product launch. Why is that?

 

[nickw]

Yes, I agree there are a few out there. That's the problem. Locally, I'm connected to every forum, FB group, club, etc related to Land Rover and/or off-road interests. There's zero activity with anything newer than 2004, and barely anything before that as people jump ship for better, newer offerings from other manufacturers. Let's look globally now. I listed numerous examples of publications and forums that cover what's going on in the off-road world. There's nearly zero coverage of anything Land Rover that isn't a product launch. Why is that?

Probably in large part due to the 'cool' factor of some of the other brands. My point was, in general, being part of enthusiast groups, FB groups (I wouldn't know as I am not on it) and any 'expedition' publication gives a very jaded view of what folks use and what the expectations are if you wanna be part of the cool group of kids and sit with them at lunch.

The market also caters much more toward Toyotas and domestics, they are easier to own, easier to source aftermarket parts for and easier to modify....and lets be honest, that last one is 95% of why most guys get into this to begin with....to tinker.

I said in another thread, I met a fella that travels back and forth from Alaska to Oregon, and has for years, in his beat up old Chevy 1500 with a bunch of cheap plastic gas cans strapped to it....not-expocool. He doesn't care, obviously not on FB and probably doesn't even own a cell phone...point being I don't see any Rover produced in the last 10 years that couldn't handle 99.9% of what folks on here call "expeditions"....the new Defender is even better.

 

[dreadlocks]

As a guy whos likely one of the few actually taking his Make/Model off the pavement, IDGAF how many other people are doing it.. or if the manufacturer is making sound market decisions, the market means nothing to me.. the manufacturers business issues are no concern of mine, except for when I got nearly $40k out of VW's diesel scandal.

I'm at the point in my life where I just want a nice stock vehicle, I dont want to have to mod the crap out of it to make it tolerable.. If I feel like I gotta bolt a bunch of crap onto a vehicle to make it do what I want, I'm not buying it.. so aftermarket support is not really a BFD, I'm an OEM+ kinda guy.. I see vehicles where the owner has changed out about everything they could, and wonder to my self if they hated how it looked so badly, why did they even buy it?

I was never interested in LR's until this one, so I can see why the LR Fanboi's are sad they made a vehicle more for me than they did them.. If there were 3 things I could improve on my current vehicle it'd be an Air Suspension that dont get rock hard when lifted way up, lockers, and better support for a winch.. all things the new Discovery have put on the table.. the only thing I cant get on it that I really want is a Diesel engine, but I've came to accept that my next luxary SUV wont be a diesel with the way we've treated our Diesel manufacturers lately.

The best rig for expo is the one you got, you all need to drive more and worry less..