question to all LR owners
- Thread starter SaMingTRD
- Start date
cjmitchell5
Adventurer
I love them all. I've owned lots of Rovers and lots of Jeeps. I've wanted lots of Toyotas, not sure why I've never actually gotten one and from someone who's never owned one, I'll say hands down they are the best overland vehicle made. I can't think of one thing any other brand can do that a Toy cannot do better or at least match (save for heavy weight towing, and no I don't want to hear about Tundras)
I guess the easiest way to sum it up for me is which would you rather have, a Porsche, Ferrari, Honda NSX, or Toy Supra? The NSX and Supra are easily as capable as the former and way more dependable but which invokes passion?
I guess the easiest way to sum it up for me is which would you rather have, a Porsche, Ferrari, Honda NSX, or Toy Supra? The NSX and Supra are easily as capable as the former and way more dependable but which invokes passion?
craig
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
Land Rover's have a tremendous amount in their favor for Overlanding.
Body on frame construction
Boxed Ladder frame
Solid Axles front and rear
Coil sprung suspension for decades now. Smooth, strong (no alignment issues), and simple.
Transmission etc is tucked up nicely preventing the need for excessive lift/tires.
Disc brakes on all four corners
Basic models like the Defender, or Scott's D1 have very few gizmo failures
Land Rovers Camel Trophy reputation was built on simple diesel motors, not the NAS V8. Outside of the NAS v8, D1/RRC/Defenders are every bit as reliable as the Toyotas I've owned (5 of them).
Body on frame construction
Boxed Ladder frame
Solid Axles front and rear
Coil sprung suspension for decades now. Smooth, strong (no alignment issues), and simple.
Transmission etc is tucked up nicely preventing the need for excessive lift/tires.
Disc brakes on all four corners
Basic models like the Defender, or Scott's D1 have very few gizmo failures
Land Rovers Camel Trophy reputation was built on simple diesel motors, not the NAS V8. Outside of the NAS v8, D1/RRC/Defenders are every bit as reliable as the Toyotas I've owned (5 of them).
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Yorker
Adventurer
4Rescue said:
Exactly my point, more relaible AND better built If you have owned exactly why- I'd take a Nissan GR over a Toyota any day. Toyotas are nice but not without their flaws- Nissan GRs make even the 9" TLC diffs look dinky. Toyotas are great but they are not the acme and ultimate when it comes to 4X4 vehicles, they have flaws just like any other vehicle Land Rover included. I don't buy into the LR elitist mentality neither do I buy into the infallibility of the Toyota, other designs can exceed them both in quality and durability.
The beauty is that we don't have to settle for any vehicle as-is, in the USA we can modify and pick and choose what upgrades suit our own uses. Who cares what other people choose and why? If you aren't bankrolling them then why should it matter? The only vehicle that should matter to you is the one you own- the ones other people own are their affair- I've never seen so many people concerned with what other people drive and why... I don't care if you show up in a Suzuki Samurai, a CCKW, FZJ80, or a Model A Ford- As long as you have a good attitude and an interest in adventure lets go!
Antichrist
Expedition Leader
Land Rovers have been my daily drivers (and long distance drivers) ever since I bought my first in 1974, except for two years in the early 80's when I had a VW camper as my daily driver (still had land rovers though).
I've only been left "stranded" twice, once in '78 (in my '74 SIII) with a broken timing chain and once a few years ago (in my Disco) with a bad starter.
I have 250k on my Disco, so probably well over 1m total Land Rover miles.
I've never hesitated to get in any of my Rovers and drive 1,000 miles with nothing more than routine pre-trip checks.
That said, you have to have a sense of humor to own a Land Rover. While only being "stranded" twice, there have been quite a few annoyances and several failures of "comfort" items (hence my forum ID).
For an expedition rig, I'd choose body on frame, solid axle (preferably full floating), and diesel; then just take it from there and get what meets your needs. Obviously I'd choose a land rover, but that's mainly because I have nearly 35 years experience with them. If you're starting new, start with the basic requirements and go from there. Unless "image" is important to you.
I've only been left "stranded" twice, once in '78 (in my '74 SIII) with a broken timing chain and once a few years ago (in my Disco) with a bad starter.
I have 250k on my Disco, so probably well over 1m total Land Rover miles.
I've never hesitated to get in any of my Rovers and drive 1,000 miles with nothing more than routine pre-trip checks.
That said, you have to have a sense of humor to own a Land Rover. While only being "stranded" twice, there have been quite a few annoyances and several failures of "comfort" items (hence my forum ID).
For an expedition rig, I'd choose body on frame, solid axle (preferably full floating), and diesel; then just take it from there and get what meets your needs. Obviously I'd choose a land rover, but that's mainly because I have nearly 35 years experience with them. If you're starting new, start with the basic requirements and go from there. Unless "image" is important to you.
4Rescue
Expedition Leader
Yeah, I've floged a fair ammount of Rigs in the outback of QWueensland and honestly, the Patrol NEVEr impressed me, constant tranny issues(unfortuantely an auto to be fair) and locker engagement issues. they're hardly of the same ilk as a 70 series Cruiser. The C303 is really cool, but outside of the portal axles and the accompanying lockers it's hardly more than a big box witha few goodies underneath. The motors hardly anything to be happy with ...Yorker said:
I agree, run what ya brung and have fun, but when someone asks about a certain rig, it does little good to blow sunshine up someone's behind just to preserve good relations... A person asked a question, and these are our answers to this question. Am I going to go to the blokes house and physicaly prevent him from buying what I consider a waste of money??? NO, people are free to do what they please with their money, but I have my opinions and on this board we share them.
A good rig is not an opinion, it's years of abuse in severe conditions with little failure... hence the Landcruiser, there's nothing that even touches Toyota's record in this arena.
Cheers
Dave
Unfortunately ALL things that are extremely hard to come by in N. America. I do however agree with you completely (althgouh I'd obviously choose a Toyota) and am completely amazed when I see the water crossings those Camel trophy D1's navigate eh. there's something to be said about few electronics and a motor that'll run under water.Antichrist said:
Cheers
Dave
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Antichrist
Expedition Leader
Not that hard. My D90, Lightweight, one of my 109's, and my SWB meet the criteria.4Rescue said:
A 109 converted to a Land Rover 200Tdi would make a great expedition rig.
Series 1 Discos are really cheap now and rumor has it Isuzu diesels work very nicely in them.
Then there are FJ45 & 55's (don't know, do they have full floating axles?, but that's minor)
4Rescue
Expedition Leader
I guess I was refering to Stock configured, and really it was more about the diesel than anything seeing as they're like gold on this side of the pond. I was looking into doing the 1KZ-T swap in my Runner, but the cost ended up being prohibitive... Really bummed out because I LOVE diesel engines so much espescialy in 4x4 where the flat torque curve is so damn nice to have.Antichrist said:
Isuzu has always made great diesel motors (the duramax is an Isuzu motor) and I wouldn't hesitate to use one in a project truck... Growing up my uncle had an old Trooper II with the 4cyl Diesel and I LOVE'D wheeling that thing around the farm, it'd nearly idle up things other trucks need more skinny pedal to get up. I've never seen an Isuzu swaped D1, but that would make one sweet truck with some 80-Series Toyota axles underneath eh.
The hot ticket for the 45/55 is the Cummins 4BT. IMO cummins makes the best Diesel motors on the planet and a 4BT swaped Cruiser is one formidable truck indeed. I'm not sure,. but I thought that the 70 series was the first Cruiser with a Full float rear axle, but I could be mistaken eh.
What motor did they run in teh Camel trophy D1's??? I know that rumor had it they were really underpowered when loaded to the gills, but like I said, I am just amazed at the abuse they put those truck through and it seems the motors never gave up the ghost, just the axles.
Cheers
Dave
4Rescue
Expedition Leader
That's impressive, I can't even get my 4Runner going 85 unless it's down hill with a tail-wind HAHAHAHA.revor said:
I'm not real familiar with motor designations of Rover motors, what are the displacement's of these engines respectively. I thought that the 200 was a 2.5L motor???
Cheers
Dave
revor
Explorer
Rover was transfixed on the 2.5 (Diesel) through the TD5... not sure what the newer ones are... I can say that the electronically controlled td5 is ... well ... ZOOMY!!!!!!!!!! compared to my 300Tdi. That said the 300 will be getting some "help" come springtime to assist in it's pushing around big heavy trucks..:drool:
4Rescue
Expedition Leader
OOH, what pray tell might this help come in the form of :???:revor said:
And compared to other common/modern Diesel engines, how responsive are these motors to the usual hop up attempts??? And are there aftermarket addons to get more power out of them, for instance, is there a "marine grade" fuel pump option for them??? My uncle who Lives in Homer AK is a Diesel gienus and with his help all of his brothers (as in my other uncles...yeah, it's a big german family on that side
) diesel trucks have been, well, MONSTERS. All this talk has me really wishing I had gone ahead and dropped that 1KZ-T in my truck MMMMMMMM Diesel... How I love the power of clatter Cheers
Dave
Antichrist
Expedition Leader
Well, I was actually talking about the stock Toyota 6cyl diesel, but I expect they are pretty few and far between. I've only personally seen one, and that was over 20 years ago.4Rescue said:
There's a guy in Maine who put an Isuzu 6 in his DII.