Modern Rover's and overlanding.

[A.J.M]

Got a few overland books for Christmas that were land Rover related, first overland and the impossible takes a little longer, so went looking for another one and found "Overland Handbook" it has a few of the Admin/writer's in it and it's got me thinking.

The book says that the D3/4 etc platform is unsuitable for overland use due to suspension concerns and the worry of electrics.
I do understand that the book was written a few years ago now and the support industry and knowledge of modern Rover's has grown since then.

I'm wondering what people's thoughts are for modern LR's and use for overland travel.

I have a D3, it's been good to me but the itch to travel is getting slowly larger and i really fancy using the D3 for a trip.
It's got the load space, comfort and ability that i need, i've worked through the usual wear and age related issues and feel happy to take it.

I know the usual LR to take is a Defender but and i fully expect to get flamed for this. They don't excite me. I like them and have driven them off road but the thought of driving through Africa and then into Asia in one doesn't appeal.
The other car usually used is a Disco 1/2. More the D1 for lack of electrics but many are suffering from years of neglect and rust, D2 is now getting the same way with chassis rot and the electrics can act up.

I've seen an L322 do London to Cape Town with little issue, a D3 do a round the world trip, ( with issues but i don't have the manual box as it's awful so that issue doesn't exist for mine) and plenty of people in Africa and Aus use the D3/4 for long trips into the wilds etc. There is a lot of info on Aus LR sites for trips into the bush with modern ones and what spares to take along.

This is quite a cool thread on a D4.
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic117572-45.html

Just curious for other views from the drivers and owners of the modern ones, would you, if you had the chance, take the car you own currently on a long trip or would you sell it and go for something else?

My own view is i know my D3, i've learned it's character and moods and feel i can trust it to take me where i wish to go and bring me home.

The flip side of this thread is to see if/when i should pull the trigger on my own trip and get out to explore the world before i turn 30 and have to properly settle down and pretend to be a responsible adult. :sombrero:

 

[David Harris]

The flip side of this thread is to see if/when i should pull the trigger on my own trip and get out to explore the world before i turn 30 and have to properly settle down and pretend to be a responsible adult. :sombrero:

Great question which is always on my mind too. However, I am over 40 and have a good job. Nevertheless, working hard doesn't leave the time to enjoy the fruits of taking the long journeys I have in mind. It's a Catch-22. Ultimately, I think my goal is to balance career success with enjoyment of personal goals and make my choices accordingly in the next 5-10 years.

On the vehicle issue, I am settled down to my 89 Range Rover Classic for the main reasons you mention above for your LR3. It's what I want to drive. That's not a bad guideline for choosing a vehicle.

 

[roverandom]

http://www.roverparts.com/nxt/?page...+/+Discovery+3&Category=SUSPENSION+&+STEERING

If your only concern is the EAS this is a good alternative. Been running this system on our 3 for a while now and it has been flawless.

Other than the limited range of the V8 I think the LR3 is a great long distance overlanding platform.

 

[LocoCoyote]

My advice is: "don't be afraid of the electronics"

The current "debate" about the suitability of complex electronic systems for extended overland travel is very much the same as has been had before. I can recall similar discussions about automatic transmissions, fuel injection vs carburettors, etc. Bottom line is, that most of these electronics are very reliable and enhance the vehicle and capabilities manyfold.

Of course, it does not matter as much what you drive, but how you drive it. I have seen VW bugs traveling the dunes of Algeria and I have seen Unimogs stuck in the mud.... How do such things come about? easy....it is all about the driver...the vehicle is just a tool like everything else.

I have no direct driving/traveling experience with the Discovery 3 or earlier. I do have some time driving a Discovery 4 over longer distances. It is a fine and very capable truck. In fact, I would go so far as to say that "out of the box" the D4 is a better off-roader than the Defender (which I love btw). Why is the D4 better? why, those electronics! They make driving it much more comfortable (which is critical when you have long days behind the wheel), it is much safer (hill decent control is a gem! ever drive a Defender down a steep incline?) and is more efficient.

Field repair of vehicle electronic systems simply requires a slightly different skill set than on older/non-elctroinc controlled vehicles. The tools and the knowledge of how to use them is out there...just have to make the effort. Are you going to be able to get a new ECU for your D4 in the backwoods of the Congo? Probably not. Going to find a shade tree mechanic who can troubleshoot and fix the electronics in the same place? again, probably not. So you plan for that eventuality and decide on possible ways to get around that, should a problem occur...it is simply part of the planning process.

If you know your D3 as well as you think, then you will be golden on any long range trip. You will know what are the likely things to break and how to fix them...and will plan to be able to do so.

One last comment....if the book you were referring to is Chris Scotts "Overlander's Handbook" then I recommend you take much of what is in there with a grain of salt. It is not a bad book by any means...but it is very opinionated and shallow in many areas. Tom Sheppard's "Vehicle Dependant Expedition Guide" is much much better and more about presenting information instead of opinions.

OK....off my soapbox!

 

[newhue]

I have a 2010 defender and it suffers from the same fears a D3 or 4, but to a lessor degree. A Tdci, or even a TD5 Defender can have an electronics melt down same as a Discovery. Many have poo poo'd the later Defenders, including myself because of the unknown. And to be honest my car had LR scratching their heads for the first 8 weeks of registration. But now the initial issue has been resolved the car has been electronically trouble free largely, rather mechanical complains have been more the norm.
I see it as I just have to carry an electronic diagnostic tool as part of the kit. Know how to use it just like a set of spanners, and carry a few spare sensors like a MAS.
I have spoken to the chap who did the tune on it and asked what sensor I should carry, and his response was none really, maybe a MAS, the rest really are very robust.

So my long blurb is basically, if you know your Disco is a good car, get to know it's electronics a bit, and go for it.

 

[pugslyyy]

Every new technology has naysayers, don't sweat it.

The best advice here is "drive what you want to drive"

 

[Toy-Roverlander]

I can't afford a new vehicle, or one new enough to have lots of electronics so I have no first hand experience. However, I've witnessed an issue with a fairly new D4 that would put me off owning such a vehicle even if I could afford it.
This happened in Broome, western Australia. This guy had some sort of electrical issue, a warning light came on and all. Now, in Broome there USED to be a garage that had some sort of agreement with JLR Australia to do warantywork. This license ran out and wasn't renewed.
He had his LR4 trucked to Perth, some 2500km away, to the dealer to have a brake light switch renewed and the computer was resetted. After that is was trucked all the way back. At no cost to him obviously but it took ages for him to get his vehicle back. Few weeks later there was another issue with the vehicle and it was shipped to Perth again.

Moral of my little story, these newer vehicles need to be hooked up to diagnostic equipment when something goes wrong. We take it for granted that there's a dealer or an indepenend garage usually not far away where they can hook it up. But this might be just a little bit more difficult in more developing countries.

 

[axels]

The Gap-Diagnotics IIDTool is only a few hundred dollars and will diagnose and/or fix pretty much any electronic faults, including suspension and all.
The brake light switch is a known issue and cost about $20. A lot of owners actually carry one in their truck...
Easy fix and small investment shouldn't be too scary. I think modern (or not) Land Rovers are as good as anything else for traveling/ over landing.

 

[roverandom]

I love it when people claim a D3 is just as good, or sometimes better than a Defender off road.

 

[Mack73]

I love it when people claim a D3 is just as good, or sometimes better than a Defender off road.

Well when you are looking at a choice between a 30k 1985 defender and a 30k 2008+ D3/D4....

And on moderate terrain (all things being equal like tires, lift, protection) I would take that line. I have off-roaded both.

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

I am unsure if your comment (roverandom) is sarcasm or serious, but I can say this: I have owned both a D90 and a D110. The LR3 runs circles around both. I have seen stock LR3/4 out perform some of the most well built Defenders that had very well trained drivers in them.
(And do so with comfort.)

The only truck I have owned that ever came close to the performance capabilities of the LR3 was a 1993 non-factory-air-suspension (coil sprung) Range Rover Classic SWB, but it wasn't anywhere close to the comfort and safety of the LR3

D

 

[pugslyyy]

I love it when people claim a D3 is just as good, or sometimes better than a Defender off road.

All depends on the terrain. Certainly it is more comfortable and will lead to less driver fatigue. I followed one all over Moab when they were new and was very impressed with how well it handles. You just have to know how to work the suspension, very different from solid axle.

 

[jhawk]

http://www.roverparts.com/nxt/?page...+/+Discovery+3&Category=SUSPENSION+&+STEERING

If your only concern is the EAS this is a good alternative. Been running this system on our 3 for a while now and it has been flawless.

Other than the limited range of the V8 I think the LR3 is a great long distance overlanding platform.

I've been running the two inch lift conversion with 265/70's for about eight months now. I don't miss the air suspension outside of not being able to lower the truck to help with loading my canoe.

 

[medicfernando]

I've been running the two inch lift conversion with 265/70's for about eight months now. I don't miss the air suspension outside of not being able to lower the truck to help with loading my canoe.

What suspension are you running? I would love to see a few pics of your rig and also suspension pics. How well does it work off road? Thanks!

 

[jhawk]

What suspension are you running? I would love to see a few pics of your rig and also suspension pics. How well does it work off road? Thanks!

It's the AB 2in kit.

http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/L319SRK-OME

It does great off and on road. I have had the truck on number of trails with and without the air suspension, and not once have I missed the air suspension. I lost two air struts 20 plus miles out (two different trips), and even with the IDDtool to constantly reset things I had had enough.

Jim