Overland Journal Project Land Rover Discovery 4 (LR4)

[umbertob]

What happens if the suspensions crap out due to a fault or an actual air leak, and the vehicle lowers to access height or the bump stops? Can it still be driven with tires that large?

 

[Scott Brady]

What happens if the suspensions crap out due to a fault or an actual air leak, and the vehicle lowers to access height or the bump stops? Can it still be driven with tires that large?

Good question. With a suspension failure (i.e. drops to the bumpstops), the vehicle would be undriveable.

We have several current solutions and a few planned. We currently have the IIDTool that allows for interfacing with the suspension ECU to clear faults, check for failures, etc. There is also a kit to bypass the system and run a Schrader valve at each corner (field fix). I also have another solution planned that will maintain sufficient ride height for a field fix. That is next on the list. . .

This truck also has 5,000 miles on it, which really helps.

 

[Scott Brady]

From what I've gathered the L322 has more room in the wheel wells. I'm debating between an LR3 and an L322 right now.

They are quite different cars. If I had all the same hobbies I do today (photography, wingshooting, fly fishing, sport shooting, etc.), but didn't do any serious vehicle-based exploration, my vehicle of choice would be the MKIII (L322). I could drive that vehicle every day and it would fulfill every task I needed.

I also really like the LR3, maybe even better than the LR4 in some ways.

The ultimate vehicle quiver for me (if I could only have two trucks) would be a supercharged L322 Range Rover and a near stock RTW 300Tdi 110. In fact, I have often considered purging all of my other vehicles to do just that

 

[Sleeping Dog]

The ultimate vehicle quiver for me (if I could only have two trucks) would be a supercharged L322 Range Rover and a near stock RTW 300Tdi 110. In fact, I have often considered purging all of my other vehicles to do just that

Can I have dibs on the D1 :ylsmoke:

Jim

 

[toddz69]

We are going to laser cut that panel and reweld with more clearance.

Without being familiar with the architecture of the vehicle, I assume this panel is something that is removable/replaceable with a piece that is laser cut elsewhere? From your description, I have visions of someone in the fenderwell trimming with their light saber .

Todd Z.

 

[xray132]

Frame cutting

Scott you talked about cutting the frame horns. I would like to know if anyone knows the true purpose of those extensions in the beginning. Mack73 and I had a PM conversation about those the other night. I have a 2005 and those pieces bolted on. I wouldn’t worry too much about cutting on them. I took mine off and they supported nothing as you can see the in the pic they had dirt on top.

 

[perkj]

I also have another solution planned that will maintain sufficient ride height for a field fix. That is next on the list. . .

Been following this thread primarily to understand what you have in mind here as you mentioned it at the start of the thread. Any further details or eta of when you expect to tackle this?

 

[Zecko]

Alright gents, I've been reading this thread with great interest because I wanted to learn about my options with the LR4. Since my truck is my daily driver and I only do about 5-6 trips a year (typically a long weekend) and 1 week long. I wanted to keep the truck fairly stock but add a little security and protection. The IIDtools gives me a little security with clearing codes and a little lift during my trips (I would leave the truck in stock height for daily driving). I was also thinking of a second set of wheels and tires, that are more aggressive and LT rated with stronger sidewalls.

Now with Scott's observation that 18s will fit with 1.25 inch spacers, my options for wheels and tires have opened up. My question is, what's the better scenario...leave the truck at the standard height and run my 19's with all season tires for daily driving and then buy another set of 19's and Cooper LTZ tires in the stock size and switch wheels for trips or buy 18's from an LR3 and 32 inch tires AT tires and run those as my daily driver and forget the 19's or lastly can I run my 19's for daily purposes but then switch to the 18's with spacers and more aggressive tires for my trips? If I'm switching between my 19's and ~30 inch tires and the 18's with 32's, will the alignment be an issue and therefore I need to decide on either running the 19's exclusively or the 18's only and adjust the alignment for them? My assumption is that for the 18's with 32 inch tires, I would use the IIdtools to lift the truck for the entire trip/journey. Would that be too much stress on the suspension?

Sorry for the rambling...hope that makes sense.

 

[nwoods]

Scott you talked about cutting the frame horns. I would like to know if anyone knows the true purpose of those extensions in the beginning.

I'm pretty sure they are there for side impact protection of the footwell. Those frame horns caused us a lot of grief in templating the RoverSpecialties rock sliders for the LR3. There is a surprising amount of variation in where they are mounted by the factory.

I also really like the LR3, maybe even better than the LR4 in some ways.

I'd love to hear you expand on this a bit. I have my own reasons too, but I'd appreciate hearing your perspective.

 

[Scott Brady]

Alright gents, I've been reading this thread with great interest because I wanted to learn about my options with the LR4.

It really depends on what you wish to do with the vehicle. The Achilles heel of the LR4 is wheel/tire diameter, particularly in soft sand, mud and snow, where flotation is required for such a heavy vehicle. I am attempting to push the upper limits of performance with this platform, but in reality, just installing the spacers and LR3 wheels with a 31-32" tire is pretty ideal. Use the IIDTool to manage height and run the truck 20-40mm above stock and align for that height. The big problem with the 19s and 20s is that there are NO tires with decent sidewall strength in the size suitable for the LR4. In 18s, we have lots of options, including three-ply AT KOs, Falkens, etc.

For your situation, it might still be a good idea to have two sets of tires/wheels, as it is still easy to tear-up the 18s on the rocks. The LR4 is a classy truck, so you may want the 19s and more street-biased rubber for daily driving.

What you don't want to do is run 40-60mm of IIDTool lift for long distances without aligning for that height. I have my truck aligned for 60mm of lift. That is the cool thing about the IIDTool, I just plug it in and drop the car 20mm for highway runs, then add another 10-15mm over the Johnson Rod height for around Prescott or trails. This still allows running in "Off-Road" mode without a fault or too much compressor stress. There are upper limits to what is possible with the rods and IIDTool, which so far seems to be Johnson Rod lift of 60mm + an additional 10mm in the rear with IIDTool adjustment.

Hope this helps

 

[Scott Brady]

I'm pretty sure they are there for side impact protection of the footwell. Those frame horns caused us a lot of grief in templating the RoverSpecialties rock sliders for the LR3. There is a surprising amount of variation in where they are mounted by the factory.

They are welded on the LR4 and now part of the overall structure of the body mount too. It certainly is there for impact protection, but likely to stop the front tire from crushing into the footwell. It only needs a few inches trimmed off, so I am going to torch off the part that rubs and weld in a new plate. Really not a big deal, but seems so with such a nice vehicle

 

[Scott Brady]

I'd love to hear you expand on this a bit. I have my own reasons too, but I'd appreciate hearing your perspective.

1. LR3 can fit a 17" or 18" wheel factory
2. LR3 can take a factory snorkel. Any snorkel option for the LR4 would be ridiculous given the DUAL air filters.
3. LR3 dash and interior is more utilitarian, which I actually like. The LR4 interior is of course beautiful
4. LR4 has this massive glass on the roof

Overall, the LR4 is a better truck, particularly the motor which is such a pleasure to drive. We are really brushing up against the limits of what is possible with a modern Land Rover in the US, especially for long-distance abuse and exploration. I believe the Land Rover nameplate should reflect an appropriate degree of utility and simplicity, of course wrapped in a generous dose of civility. It will be very interesting to see what the Discovery 5 brings. . .

 

[RangeBrover]

Any idea about tire clearance and how all this works on the L322, by any chance?

I installed 18's on my L322, I ended up importing a set of 4 from the UK for less than 1000 shipped. Just look on ebay over there and you should be able to find a set.

 

[PhyrraM]

..... It will be very interesting to see what the Discovery 5 brings. . .

After seeing the MK4 RR, I'm curious to see what the LR5 loses.

 

[proper4wd]

After seeing the MK4 RR, I'm curious to see what the LR5 loses.

And what did the MK4 RR lose exactly?

Aside from 600 pounds of dead weight.