Hailsharky this is a great post. And anyone drinking Coors while hanging on LRO must be a pretty cool guy! On your mods, I would again suggest the rock sliders. I can't emphasize enough how important these are on Discos. But sounds like you've got a killer rig in the making.
It's tough to handle folks who have a poor image of LRs. Just shows their ignorance of the history of wheelin'. However, consider this: LR seems to have lost sight of it as well. I am a huge fan of the LR3 & new Rangies,,, these vehicles meet popular demand and make money for LR, keeping 'em in business. They introduce new folks to the LR brand. BUT,,, there isn't currently a true off-roader available in the US. Can't get Defenders and the new ones are apparently going to be toned down beyond what we would recognize as a Defender. LRs official website doesn't have much on off-roading, LR history, etc. The new LR/Ford view seems very one-dimensional. SO,,, as LR enthusiasts & LR wheelers, we've got an uphill battle.
Best way I've found to deal with it is to find a good LR club in your area. Go on trips with them whenever you can. Wheel, hang-out, and chat with fellow LR enthusiasts. Can't go wrong there. Get out to the Nat'l Rally if you can. Etc. Then you don't have to worry about Jeep people "not getting it". CO is a Jeepin' mecca and I've found for the most part that the Jeep folks I run into are pretty cool & give respect when they see you on the trail. Many are surprised with LRs capability. If they're not,,,well,,,it's an LR THING,,,THEY WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.
All I can say is no other stock vehicle as capable. I'll take stock Disco over stock Jeep any day. Disco w/ CLD even over a Rubi. Jeepers out there would say I'm nuts but I never cease to be amazed by stock, or close-to-stock Disco capability,,,,see "Snow White" thread for some killer Aussie rut pics.
We've got Poison Spyder out here & High Country and all kinds of tubular super-modified Jeeps. Put that same money into a series or 90 and you wouldn't only conquer the same obsticles,,,you would look way cooler doing it.
PS- you'll DESTROY that Sahara in your Disco. "Set up to run Rubicon trail"? What does that mean? Rubicon is how you take it. You can run it stock in an XJ,,,,or you can take it mean with tubed-out beast mobiles,,,shows you how much they know about wheelin'.
