New Defender Rage/Hate Thread

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Solid axles, to your point, don't all articulate well, at least not ones that have any reasonable load carrying capacity.

The articulation possible with a solid axle is about the suspension chosen.
The video I posted earlier is a solid front axle (Dana 60) mounted on LOOOONG leaf springs (the rear is a Dana 70, on even longer leaf springs). This vehicle has better articulation than anything in its class with the possible exception of a Mog (if you consider that in the same class?).
Here is that clip again in case you missed it.... Dana 60 front with long leaf springs This is a 6T vehicle.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[nickw]

The articulation possible with a solid axle is about the suspension chosen.
The video I posted earlier is a solid front axle (Dana 60) mounted on LOOOONG leaf springs (the rear is a Dana 70, on even longer leaf springs). This vehicle has better articulation than anything in its class with the possible exception of a Mog (if you consider that in the same class?).
Here is that clip again in case you missed it.... Dana 60 front with long leaf springs This is a 6T vehicle.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Besides a Unimog which has a highly specialized suspension and drivetrain system, I've never run across a vehicle that has both a high degree of articulation and load carry capacity. One off custom solutions may solve this, but I highly suspect there are serious compromises.

This small shop in the middle of the desert is equipped to handle American Dana axles if you blow a pinion?

 

[naks]

Tyre profile provided insufficient flotation in sand.
The new Defender would be better with higher profile 16" tyres than the 18" supplied.

Interesting... I often go to the dunes with my RRS, which has 20" road tyres, and it keeps up with the Defenders. Sometimes even runs rings around them

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Besides a Unimog which has a highly specialzed suspension and drivetrain system, I've never run across a vehicle that has both a high degree of articulation and load carry capacity. One off custom solutions may solve this, but I highly suspect there are serious compromises.

Check out the Australian built OKA.

OKA 4WD, Australia's Original Expedition Vehicle - 4WDAUS

3 OKA emodels, XT, LT and NT. These models were available in a variety of body styles including cab-chassis, single cab, dual cab, multi cab and bus.

www.4wdaus.com

This small shop in the middle of the desert is equipped to handle American Dana axles if you blow a pinion?

Probably, although much of their work is straightening the chassis of overloaded twin cabs.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[DieselRanger]

How about this one.. an Overland Experts trainer commenting on new “Land Rovers”

Huh. That's interesting.

How do you think they'd fare in Africa, as compared to, say, the Discovery 5?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T337A using Tapatalk

 

[naks]

Huh. That's interesting.

How do you think they'd fare in Africa, as compared to, say, the Discovery 5?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T337A using Tapatalk

Look at Kingsley Holgate's travels through the DRC, his convoy is made up of D5s - some of these 'roads' would make you cry.

Sent from my G8441 using Tapatalk

 

[DieselRanger]

Look at Kingsley Holgate's travels through the DRC, his convoy is made up of D5s - some of these 'roads' would make you cry.

Sent from my G8441 using Tapatalk

Yeah, that was my setup, thanks for ruining it!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T337A using Tapatalk

 

[mpinco]

How about this one.. an Overland Experts trainer commenting on new “Land Rovers”

That would be consistent with the observations I posted earlier of TC on broken down granite/shale. If the TC system can't find traction on at least one wheel it hunts by applying brakes in an attempt at transferring torque to another wheel. That 'hunting' with brakes diminishes momentum/forward progress, eventually to no progress. It is simply just the outcome of using reverse ABS as a traction system.

 

[Todd780]

I had an Audi SQ5 and didn't have any issues with my air suspension on it but did with a window regulator......I hear Audi is reverting back to manual windows....

J/K, I know what your are saying...but the newer rigs are pretty good. The new Ram Rebel has air suspension and it's super cool, raise, lower and payload leveling....win win at the expense of MINOR complexity issues....

Well, for the 4 years my coworker has had a Ram with air suspension, every winter it's broken down on him.

 

[EricTyrrell]

Well, for the 4 years my coworker has had a Ram with air suspension, every winter it's broken down on him.

A perfect example of using the technology incorrectly for the application. A truck (Defender also) doesn't need primary air-bags, it benefits from helper-bags, which when they fail don't leave you SOL.

Edit: I just remembered that many Defenders actually shipped from the factory with such a helper system (BOGE), though most of them probably stopped working a decade-ago.

 

[nickw]

Well, for the 4 years my coworker has had a Ram with air suspension, every winter it's broken down on him.

I've heard some have issues in cold conditions....but I have a buddy who had one and he put lots of miles on it with 0 problems. I had an SQ5, my buddy still does, 0 problems between the two of us and tens of thousands of miles between us. They do require maintenance, but still think it's worth the trade-off....

If you do a search you'll find lots of people bellyaching....but lots of people don't have problems. I think the newer Rebels have gone through a few iterations of updates and seem to be pretty reliable.

 

[nickw]

A perfect example of using the technology incorrectly for the application. A truck (Defender also) doesn't need primary air-bags, it benefits from helper-bags, which when they fail don't leave you SOL.

Edit: I just remembered that many Defenders actually shipped from the factory with such a helper system (BOGE), though most of them probably stopped working a decade-ago.

Not incorrect....it's a cool concept for a truck and is required for the design intent of the engineers. I don't care for much of a lift on trucks 95% of the time...why drive around with a lift for 10's of thousands of miles if the clearance in only needed a fraction of the time. Seems like its an very good application....even more so on the Defender....

 

[Todd780]

I've heard they are not the best in cold conditions....but I have a buddy who had one and he put lots of miles on it with 0 problems. I had an SQ5, my buddy still does, 0 problems between the two of us and tens of thousands of miles between us. They will break down, but still think it's worth the trade-off....

For me, it's not worth the trade off. In the winter months here I see a fair bit of air suspended vehicles breaking down. (various makes and models.)

I'd rather stick to coils or leafs and just not have to worry about it.

 

[Pilat]

Isn't there a version with coil-springs only? I think there is or will be.

 

[Todd780]

Isn't there a version with coil-springs only? I think there is or will be.

I believe you are correct in a sense. Canada will not get the base model that comes with the coils though. Just like we don't get abase Sport Gladiator. Entry is the Sport S. Also, there is no 2WD Ranger offered for sale here. Different markets I guess....