DII overland prep

[Alaska Mike]

Again I'm kind of stuck with the DII (its my daily driver) and I'm kind of attached to her (not that any of you are attached...HAHA).

I don't see you as being "stuck" with the DII at all. You've found a vehicle that matches your wants and personality, and you'd like to take her on a vacation. Just don't let your significant other know the depth of your affection. They get touchy about stuff like that.

I think that last bit of advice about replacing sensors and then keeping them as spares is a good one. I'm not sure if the Discos have a specific mileage/age for replacement of sensors, but I usually change mine when they reach 60-75% of their expected lifespan- especially when I'm going on a long trip. Some of them can affect gas mileage severely (at least, they can on my vehicles), and replacing them well before the trip will give you some time to make sure everything is functioning correctly.

BFGs are my choice as well. Go conservative on the load rating.

 

[Hltoppr]

Don't confuse being "young and dumb" with "adventurous and prepared."

Don't let those who haven't done keep you from doing....

For example...my first motorcycle trip; having never been off tarmac on a moto, and only having ridden about 100 miles, was 3000 miles down Baja on a route of the Baja 500; over to the mainland of Mexico, and back to Arizona....totally and completely over my head; but turned out to be one of the best, life altering experiences of my life so far!

-H-

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Thank you!!!

This is waaaayyyyy too big of a trip for this kid. New college grad...
jim

While I'd encourage a couple of trial trips also, I have a hard time saying don't do it and you're too young. An acquaintance, when he was a recent college grad, left on a RTW trip via motorcycle and did just fine. Though he had his trials.

While a serious injury and death is possible, the more likely worst case scenario is that he aborts the trip and abandons the vehicle. Either way he'll have an experience that he'll remember.

Go for it.

Jim

 

[seriessearcher]

Jim is only offering advice from experience

I know Jim is not trying to bash a brand or a platform. He has like 20 something (or more) years in the automotive repair business and walks the walk with expedition vehical prep. He has seen a whole lot and
calls it like it is.


I thought I would add that.

I have owned 3 Discoveries and would not take them out of the country. I will however sit on my hands now.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I have owned 3 Discoveries and would not take them out of the country. I will however sit on my hands now.

Would you mind divulging details of the problems you had? I'm honestly curious.

 

[seriessearcher]

Only becaused you asked

I will start by saying all three were purchased from the dealer certified pre owned. So that being said they were up to date on maint when I got them and I only took them to the dealer. they all had extended warraties so the dealer fixed everything for free or 100 dollars so they looked for things to send to the warranty shop.

All three in CO, not wheeled hard, minor stuff.

The 99 had the head gasket replaced twice in the 15k to 20k miles I had her. The sun roof channel leaked and needed to be cleaned replaced with the oil changes. The MAF went out 2 or 3 times I can not remember. The ABS sensors went out every two to 3 months. The Rear leveling suspension went out twice. Numerous electrical gremlins I can not remember. once it reached a non warranty state I traded it in.

I got a 2003 discovery which was in the shop so much they took it back after 4000 miles as a lemon basically. They gave me my money back in full to include all fees and taxes. It was in the shop for a leaking windshield, sun roofs, door seals, head gasket, ABS sensor, wiper switch, and a host of other issues. I may still have the folder together on it.

So I used the money returned on a low mileage 2004 Discovery. It suffered from seperation anxiety as well from the local Land Rover Dealership. It was always something little, but electrical which sent me to the shop to have it checked out and replaced. It also had the head gasket replaced. I finally gave up on the brand and bought a Subaru as a daily driver.

I changed for a couple of reasons. I bought my wife a new sequioa and the Toyota has only seen the shop to change the oil. In 6 months nothing. The Discovery averaged 1 trip a month. We did not need 2 large 4x4 vehicles. I have 2 daughters and I want to spend time with them not going to the shop early to get a loaner car or to be dropped of at work. There was a running joke here at work with my discoveries. They were always in the shop. I wouldhear not again a ride to the dealership.

The price of gas, we didn't need two v-8 trucks. The Toyota gets a couple of miles better than the Disco and my wife does not drive as far every day.

I am not bashing LRs as I own 2.25 of them. 1 1960 88 I plan to drive to Moab for a 4 day excpedition run in 2 weeks. A 1959 109 Dormobile I am putting back together, and the remains of the 1967 dormobile I am swapping parts from.

The LR was a great truck, but I would not trust mine to get me to SA. I would drive from CO to TN, but I expected to have a light or two on most of the trip. It would make it, but would I really trust it all the way to SA? Not me personally.

If I only had one, call it a lemon, if I had two call it a trend, I had three and I call it a problem with quality.

My 2 cents to be read or ignored.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Interesting.

Mine has been... ok... so far. I chose one without the SLS and ACE to avoid the complexity. If I did it again, I'd get one with out sunroofs too.

I discovered my carpets were soaked, and the floor rusty. The shop said the sunroofs were leaking, which is a common problem with them, which they fixed, but also the windshield is leaking which they blame on an aftermarket windshield job. I'm working on that now.

Other than that, the cruise control and horn both stopped working simultaneously. They replaced the fuses and never said why they blew. <shrug>.

That's been it in 3 months. I haven't been stranded, and people rarely seem to be. Just annoying things. Oh, and now that the warranty is out, you won't see me going to the dealer anymore. In my experience, across all vehicle lines, visiting a mechanic seems to be the root of all evils. I never go to mechanics, and I don't seem to have the troubles other people do. Take that for what you will.

Maybe I just have more patience for working bugs out. I bought a first run 2000 Focus that was constantly in the shop. Had the infamous "wheel falling off" recall. Then I bought a 2001, had a few issues at first, and after that it's been golden. I bought 4 more after that.

 

[seriessearcher]

I am not sure I follow

I am not sure I follow how that was bashing as it was my personal experience on all 3 of my Discoveries which is the vehicle being asked how to prep for an overland journey, so I would say I am qualified to post a response. if we only want the positive posts, I will sit back and just read I'll not offer up any opinions.

If it were bashing then my fault for posting what happned to my 3 Discoveries and to why I would not suggest them as a overland vehicle for someone who is not fully sponsored by numerous offroad companies and has a support staff trained to take care of the issues which may come up on such a long journey.

I'll just sit on my hands from now on.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I am not sure I follow how that was bashing as it was my personal experience on all 3 of my Discoveries which is the vehicle being asked how to prep for an overland journey, so I would say I am qualified to post a response. if we only want the positive posts, I will sit back and just read I'll not offer up any opinions.

If it were bashing then my fault for posting what happned to my 3 Discoveries and to why I would not suggest them as a overland vehicle for someone who is not fully sponsored by numerous offroad companies and has a support staff trained to take care of the issues which may come up on such a long journey.

I'll just sit on my hands from now on.

I think your post is valid and should be allowed on Expo. At least you have own the truck (rather, 3!) and are speaking from personal experience. And apparently you've had a bad one. To not allow this kind of talk would be like trying to make this a Happy Shiney Place like Disneyworld or something, and the reality is the world isn't really like that.

The only posts I have trouble with personally are those were it seems like people who have never owned them or really even sat in one, just state the usual lengendary unreliability without any first hand experience. One thing I really get tired of it people quoting JD Powers numbers, because... they really are meaningless. That is not a "quality" study, but rather just a complaint study. Not the same thing. In 2004 I think it was, the truck at the bottom of the list was the H2. Why? Because it was so heavy it was exempted from the milage marking on the window sticker. People bought them and were surprised that this 6000lb brick got 8mpg. So, 100% of people complained. It should have been disallowed because guess what, milage isn't quality, it's just physics

Similarly, the worst car was the Mini Cooper. Why? It didn't come with cupholders, and everybody complained. That is not a quality problem, it's a design choice that people SHOULD have noticed in the showroom.

As it is with yours Sean, did you you ever get stranded or have to effect roadside repairs to keep going? That's the type of thing we really need to focus on.

 

[seriessearcher]

Stranded yes

Rob,

I will focus on the stranded as you have a good point.


Yes the SLS stranded me twice. I "could" have driven but it would have caused body damage. This was unladen. Shop insisted I not drive due to possible damage. That said I could have driiven if it were the only way.

One head gasket on the 99 the LR shop told me not to drive it due to the sound of the engine. It started and seemed to run, I was advised not to. Middle of no where I guess you could say you would just do it.

The 2003 never left me without a way home.

The 2004 never left me without a way home.

Does the traction control work as expected with the ABS fault, I am not sure but yes you would not be stranded. Will the hill decent work, not sure but again you would not be stranded.

That said I personally would be concerned being 2000 or more miles from home or a good mechanic with the issues I have had with the three vehicles I owned for 6 years, all of which with lower miles than the one in question.

I have driven all over this country in cars much less qualified than a LR, but it was this country. That is my only point. My definition of middle of nowhere breakdown takes on new meaning south of TX, AZ, and CA.

 

[Alaska Mike]

So let's turn this around a little-

What did Land Rover do really well with the Discovery/Discovery II?

From what I can see, they created a suspension that flexes really well, keeping the body stable/level while keeping tires on the ground.

They also made a very comfortable cabin for the occupants. The driver has pretty darn good visibility, and I love the stadium seating and all of the windows. When Scott took me wheeling in his old Disco II, I was very nearly swayed. I had never been so comfortable/clean on the trail or so amazed how well a stock vehicle could do. It was almost effortless, and while we weren't doing any hardcore rockcrawling, there was some technical stuff that made me really seriously consider the Disco.

If it wasn't for the initial sticker shock (I was looking new and the bottom hadn't fallen out yet), I probably would've gotten one and would probably still own it. Even today, I cruise Craigslist and have the impulse to rescue all of the Discos and Range Rovers going for pennies on the dollar. I dream of the farm (or, in this case, the estate) that I could own where they could live out their days frolicking in the meadows. :cow: It's a nice dream.

 

[stevenmd]

I have beat the crap out of my DI to hell and back. She left me stranded only twice - fuel pump and broken belt tensioner - but this was after over 150K miles, hard miles too. With a few spare parts, I would have not hesitated to take her to SA.

Yeah, LR had - still has - an issue with quality but if you get a good one, you really get a good one.

But back to the original intent of this thread...:ylsmoke:

 

[George M]

Cheers to another young guy getting out there to see the world. I'm making my post-graduation trip to Ontario. Thanks to you all on this forum for your shared wisdom and encouragement. We'll see you on the trail.

George

 

[Alaska Mike]

Not having owned a Disco, are there certain intervals for replacing items listed in the manual? "Replace the frammle-guzzle after 50,000 miles or 27 tubas, whichever comes first". Or does it basically let you run to they break? Is there a common knowledge interval for parts? Just curious, because that would go a long way towards helping develop a list of spares to bring and when to start looking at doing proactive maintenance.

 

[FortyMileDesert]

OK - My experiences so far:

I own a 2004 Discovery S model (no leather, no sls, no sunroofs, no leather, etc...). It's lifted about 3 inches, runs 265/75R-16 BFG TA, trimmed front bumper, rebuilt front prop shaft with serviceable u-joints, replaced rear bumper (wood), a couple of skid plates and homebuilt sliders)...At the moment it's at 65,000 miles (about 1/3 of that off-road) on the odometer (about 10% higher than that in reality due to the larger tires.

Veteran of 121 off-road treks mostly northern Nevada. Shortest trek about 75 miles, longest 670 miles. I have never had anything fail in the boonies!

I carry a fairly complete tool box and the following spares:
* Front prop shaft
* Rotoflex rear shaft coupling
* Serpentine belt
* Oil filter
* Air filter
* Old spark plugs
* Various fluids

Have never had to actually use any of the spares and don't expect to in the future.

A couple pics of my rig and the country that I drive in:

- Some of the reliability issues with Discoveries are; maintenace (mine is always properly maintained), how you treat it (I have a lot of experience and am 67 years old - I don't do the silly things that 20 year olds do), modifications (the more extreme - the more strain on components)......

Anyhow - I still suggest a bit more experience before tackling the full length of the continents...