Overland Journal Project Land Rover Discovery 4 (LR4)

[Jwestpro]

Which is why is looks appropriate on the right for the LR3 and LR4, where the tire was mounted on the Discovery I and II. Aesthetics are in the details. Mounting to the right not only follows the heritage of the model, but also eliminates removing/relocating and covering the license plate holder. The result is a clean appearance that is consistent with prior model discoveries. The right side is the only appropriate mounting location for the single spare IMHO.




The only advantage of mounting the tire to the left is curb loading. In a LHD country, you park against the curb with the right side of the car. A right mounted tire would block access to the rear of the truck in a parallel parking scenario. That is why the Disco I and II all opened to the right side, where in a RHD country it would allow easy access to the open boot from the curb side.[/QUOTE

I don't think I am the only person to notice this "detail" is a poor design element. It's fine if you want to say "heritage" places the tire on the right however the rear window is not designed for that placement. The rear window was previously designed for view out when backing up. It still is, yet is switched sides and placing the wheel there negates your idea of "aesthetics are in the details"

 

[Jwestpro]

It is details like this that make the difference. The legacy of the Discovery follows a form, a pattern. Deviate from the pattern and the project deviates from the legacy of the model. The result is odd, at least subliminally.

Even the factory Kaymar fitment is to the right

You sound like you were appointed the Land Rover Design PR man This Placement of the tire fully blocking the right rear lights is ridiculous. If you want to keep preaching "details make the difference", well then, the detail of the Kaymar wheel placement is awful. Want to use "heritage" as an excuse? Fine, then the tire should be slightly middle placed, not way out on the edge blocking the view. It looks ridiculous.

 

[proper4wd]

I've never seen someone so combative over where the spare tire is mounted on someone elses vehicle!

 

[Jwestpro]

Please understand, I just find some of what we are offered to be very frustrating. It is nothing personal about where one person wants to put this or that.

It (the tire swing arm) is like this on almost every one out there including mine. There are only 2 choices on the back really, and the companies producing the swing arms aren't willing to make one arm that sets the wheel more centered where it ought to be based on the above ideas on heritage and aesthetics as well as safety.

This is about what makes sense and what doesn't. It's just plain bad design which is inexcusable for such an expensive vehicle.

 

[Scott Brady]

How do you like the sill protection you have? Is it still in good condition or is it rather bent out of shape?

Any favoured kit for the engine and transmission guards?

So far, it is holding up, but certainly wouldn't take a lot of abuse being aluminum. It is appropriate to the application, which would be moderate to light trail use and occasional rock impacts

 

[Scott Brady]

This Placement of the tire fully blocking the right rear lights is ridiculous.

This is also true of the left swingout. They both block the lights. We have always planned to modify our swing out to move the tire over slightly. It is easy to do and is on the list.

If you want to keep preaching "details make the difference", well then, the detail of the Kaymar wheel placement is awful.

I am not preaching, simply stating a fact. The swing out tire placement is a result of the dual-swing out design. If a single swing out is used, modify the tire mount to clear the lights.

Want to use "heritage" as an excuse? Fine, then the tire should be slightly middle placed, not way out on the edge blocking the view. It looks ridiculous.

Heritage is not an excuse, it is merely a fact. All of the Discoveries since 1989 with a rear tire mount has the mount on the right. On all Discoveries since 1989, including the Discovery 4 currently produced, the gate opens from the left, from a handle located on the left. The license plate has always been on the left. Kaymar, the manufacturer of the bumper shows the single tire on the right in all of their material. ARB shows the single tire on the right in all of their material. To mount the tire on the left of the Kaymar bumper covers the handle and the license plate. It requires an aftermarket license holder and a light. It requires running wiring and exposing the plate and mount to unnecessary damage.

This is all quite elemental. The rear tire swing out should be mounted to the right and the arm modified to provide proper visibility of the rear taillight.

 

[racehorse]

Have you got any under body protection fitted to it?

I've seen a few people post up what they have fitted to their LR43/4 and was wondering what you have fitted?

Looking to get a full under body protection kit for my D3 and some sliders as i've bent the side steps out of shape more times than i can count and i really need something tough but can also act as a side step to help get in/out. ( I'm a short ********, so i need them haha )

I feel - as do many who wheel the LR3 at least in sclr and in the west, that rock sliders are the most important underbody protection required, hands down - that compressor must be protected - not just the sills. Inevitably, once you drop down hard on a boulder, invariably you will crack the plastic shroud on the compressor cover and break the mounts if not the compressor. First, off road tires, then rock sliders - all the other gizmos - bull bar bumpers (you're not going to hit a kangaroo) racks, tire mounts are secondary. The compressor must be protected.

 

[JAK]

I feel - as do many who wheel the LR3 at least in sclr and in the west, that rock sliders are the most important underbody protection required, hands down - that compressor must be protected - not just the sills. Inevitably, once you drop down hard on a boulder, invariably you will crack the plastic shroud on the compressor cover and break the mounts if not the compressor. First, off road tires, then rock sliders - all the other gizmos - bull bar bumpers (you're not going to hit a kangaroo) racks, tire mounts are secondary. The compressor must be protected.

I totally agree. I came down hard on something while running Nightmare Gulch. I think the truck slid to the left and hit something that my front wheel missed. Whatever I hit pushed the slider in just far enough so that the compressor bracket touched making for one of the most horrific sounds short of throwing a clutch disc. Without the full coverage of the slider I am sure the compressor would have been gone. The RS sliders have 1/4 thick steel all the way into the frame. The compressor is one of the low points on the truck. Its location just in front of the driver side rear wheel makes it so vulnerable. Protection here is a must for a moderate trail. While choosing a good line would be ideal, sometimes it comes down to the rock instead of the hard place.

 

[Jwestpro]

All of the Discoveries since 1989 with a rear tire mount has the mount on the right. On all Discoveries since 1989, including the Discovery 4 currently produced, the gate opens from the left, from a handle located on the left.

Sorry, what I was getting at is not so much left or right on the tire, I also prefer right seeing as the opener is left. However, I find it silly they flipped the window dip/bump. I found it useful backing up because even though the vehicle is tall and long, you could still see right out onto the immediate ground by looking down through the window dip.

 

[nwoods]

Sorry, what I was getting at is not so much left or right on the tire, I also prefer right seeing as the opener is left. However, I find it silly they flipped the window dip/bump. I found it useful backing up because even though the vehicle is tall and long, you could still see right out onto the immediate ground by looking down through the window dip.

I agree with you, and also feel that the spare tire swing out should be on the driver side, for two reasons:
1. Preserves the visibility out the window for reversing (admittedly a negligible issue on the LR4 with all its cameras)
2. Makes loading the vehicle adjacent to a curb FAR more practical.

The LR3/4 was designed principally for the Left Hand Drive market. I got this from McGovern himself in a design charrette featuring MY personal LR3 years ago. (Granted, this was the same meeting where he assured me that the exhaust pipes had been thoroughly modeled to avoid being damaged by rocks and obstacles....so take his comment with a grain of salt . But it was significant because up until 2004 LR3 model year, they had never designed a vehicle with that market focus. I think putting the swing out on the right, besides being impractical, is also contrary to the design intent of the vehicle, and thus counter to any nod towards heredity. It is unlike any Rover before it. Don't follow convention just because its there.

 

[A.J.M]

What do you LR3 guys use for protection?
While we don't have the rock sections like Moab in Scotland, we do have sites where to get through my side steps have taken a beating.
A lot of the courses are designed more for defenders so the D3s size and wheel base sees it drag the sides and under side at times.
There is only a small amount of underbody stuff on sale and I've only seen it fitted to one D3.

 

[Jwestpro]

I have the 2 aluminum front plates and radiator guards from Rasta. They also made a nice trim fitting sill guard.

There are also others brands and designs though most are steel.

 

[A.J.M]

Any benefits for aluminium over the steel versions other than weight?

Stronger, cheaper etc. Shall look at Rasta and see what else i can find as well.

 

[Dmarchand]

Any benefits for aluminium over the steel versions other than weight?

Stronger, cheaper etc. Shall look at Rasta and see what else i can find as well.

Corrosion.

 

[nwoods]

Any benefits for aluminium over the steel versions other than weight?

Stronger, cheaper etc. Shall look at Rasta and see what else i can find as well.

There are a few distinct differences in aluminum skid plates verses steel. Aluminum is louder. Engine noise reverberates off of it more than steel plating. This translates into a slightly louder interior environment. Aluminum is stickier than steel when it comes to sliding over rocks. There is a softer grain in aluminum that can snag on the granite formations commonly found out here in the southwest. Are these important concerns? no they are not. The weight savings is a much better tradeoff.