Impressed by a Discovery 3
Had a interstate person down and the local group of D2 owners decided to take him out to show him some local tracks. The interstate vehicle was a D2 with 35 inch simexs, front and rear lockers and a 4 inch spring lift. So this trip was not going to be easy. Some of the D2 group had progressed to D3's and I was a bit surprised that they allowed a D3 along on the trip. This D3 was bog standard out of the showroom, except it had 31 inch Goodyear MTRs on it. It did have the factory fitted rear locker, but still, it was hardly what you would call set up for anything serious.
We decided to go up one of the harder tracks in the area. It is a steep track with a very lose surface made up of very large rocks. This track has broken many Diffs, Axles, CVs, etc on very well set up vehicles, so it is no walk in the park. This track I would get up around 70% of the time with double diff locks and 34 inch simexs. But many times I have had to give up on it. The interstate D2 went first and he was having a hard time, even with twin lockers. My front locker was not working as I had blown the front air line, but I decided to go up with just the rear locker. Something I would not have done by choice. I was brought to a halt at least 6 times with the rocks throwing me off the track. I had thought about giving up a couple of times, but the thought of backing down this track kept me heading forward. Finally made it to the top, but it was a struggle all the way.
2 of the D2's thought wiser about tackling it an turned back. I was therefore surprised to hear that the D3 was going to have a go. I was even more surprised, and very impressed, when he pulled up behind me at the top. I did not get any photos of this track as it is fairly long and it was not like you could stop and take photos.
But I did take some photos of the D3 coming up and easier (but still hard) track later in the day. Of the 7 vehicles we had, only 2 were prepared to tackle this hill. All the double locked vehicles ran for cover and my Rangie and the D3 were the only ones that made it up. Photos taken down or up a hill never show how steep it was, but it gives you a bit of an idea about how impressive a stock D3 can be.
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