LR3 for Overland Travel

[RedInToothAndClaw]

New here, just registered...I've been thinking about getting a LR3 for my daily driver and to use it on expedition or overland travel = extended amounts of time spent in remote locations living for weeks on end etc...

So I am wondering if this vehicle is the right choice? Off the bat, I am 6'3 so visibility is an issue as well as sleeping quarters. Do the 2nd row seats fold flat? I am thinking of sleeping in the rig with my K-9 (65lbs) until I get a roof top tent set up.

Which leads me to my second set of issues and thats aftermarket support...I am not really sure who makes what for an LR3, the only things I have seen is an ARB front bull bar and the factory/safari snorkel...I'm looking to add larger tires 31.5" I've read 32's rub? I need a roof rack but dont want that plastic factory one thats offered. A tire carrier and rear bumper would be great too.

Lastly is the daily driving part. I think I've read this right but the suspension can be electronically lifted and lowered? So going off road I can raise it to gain clearance then when I hit the highway I can lower it for better handling?

Let me know what you think, thanks for your time

[stolenheron]

the lr3 has air bag suspension so yes you raise and lower it to 3 different settings for on and offroad travel. my dad has an lr3 it is quite comfortable for a daily, but sucks gas like any rover should lol. i think it'd be fine as an expedition vehicle, but realize the vehicle is much more dependent on electronics than d2s or d1s so that can be a downside if something went wrong out in the wilderness.

[ArmyRover]

RTE has made a bumper for them as well. There is a company out there that makes racks and spare tire mounts as well it's urban offroad I think.


Follow up the site addy is Urbanoffroad Their site to me sucks ass and is a pain to use but at least while you wait for 2 days for it to load you can listen to the red hot chili peppers

[RedInToothAndClaw]

Thats a good point- many electronics means many things can go wrong... but technology can help you limp home where as a moddified D1 may not.

plus I've read that DI's may be simple but are more prone to fail in the field. The DII's look like anice blend of the two...has yours ever stranded you?

I saw the post of urban offroads roof rack which is trick, but not sure if it's worth it. I tried navigating their site but no tire carriers on it, only grills, wheels and racks...is it a different company that makes them?

just curious is RTE the same as rovertym?

[ArmyRover]

RTE = Rovertym Engineering.

My bad on the spare tire carrier it's by rasta 4x4. They also have skids slider and winch mounts for the LR3 but they will be pricey as well I'm sure.

here's the link. RASTA4X4USA

For a rack you might also check with these guys out of New Haven CT. They have standard fair racks that are very reasonably priced. blackout :: roof racks

I haven't used any products from any of the 3 companies mentioned here so I don't know the quality of the products.

A properly maintained DI or RRC are probably the least likely to fail in the field. The bonus is if they do fail with a proper tool kit and spares kit, you can field repair either of them quickly and fairly easily. With the DII your passing out of the range of this benefit.

With the LR3 your completely out of the realm. A large portion of the faults/problems your going to run into are not field fixes unless you carry a $2000 test book with you to be able to reset systems. The LR3 has some very easily damaged systems that can be very crippling to it's off road ability/performance.

I'm not saying it's a bad truck or not capable. I would just way the benefits of the electronic gadgetry against field serviceability and proven reliability.

For me it's a no brainer stick with the proven simple and repairable with hand tools. Range Rover Classic or DI





Yes I drive a RRC and I am prejudice lol.

But those are both the same rig moderately built with her quirks but I also drove that same beast 3000 miles in 7 days over xmas

My 2 cents

[antichrist]

Maybe I'm jaded because I've been driving and working on Land Rovers for over 30 years, but I'd never consider any Land Rovers after the D1 (except a Defender) for the type of travel you're talking about.
With 238k on my D1 I've been "stranded" exactly once, at the grocery store, when my starter died. Even then I could have roll started it (it's a 5-speed) and driven home if I'd wanted to bother someone to give me a tow.

[Disco Xpedition]

I have to agree about the downfall of the electronics on DII's, mine let me stranded on a short trail expedition when my crank sensor went out. Fortunately I wasn't alone. I really wanted to set my DII
for expedition, but a lot of people recommend the RRC.

[RedInToothAndClaw]

I appreciate the feedback...you all are confirming my doubts about the newer models. A lot of the trails and places I'd like to go, look a lot like ArmyRover's photos, wet, rocky and riddled with trees. Very cool pics.

Is it best to get a used RRC or DI, mod it and keep my daily driver? This option is well within my budget rather than forking down 20k+ for a new/used LR3 not to mention the mods I need.

[ArmyRover]

I would keep something else for a DD so you can have the RRC/D1 down for mods. I would also recommend to have a different DD with gas prices as they are. As my rover sits I get about 12-13 mpg on the highway.

My saab gets 30

I would look for a used one that may have some of the mods you want done already it gives a decent platform to build from and some of the work and cost out of the way. To me it seems that the mods don't really reflect as bad in the purchase price as they do when your shelling out the money to do the mods.

I started modding my RRC in Sept/Oct of last year and she was bone stock. I haven't spent that much but I buy a lot of used parts to refurb or trade parts with others for stuff I need/want.

[jimbiram]

While I agree theoretically with the thoughts about the electronics of the LR3, my reOal world experience with the LR3, even my 2005, has been pretty reliable. Yes, there have been software updates, but those all get taken care of through the dealer with regular service intervals.

I did Great Divide last year and going again in August with OffRoving and all of the new generation vehicles ran flawlessly. Only problem one guy had was he blew fuses from running too much off a plug in power inverter. But a fuse takes all of 30 seconds to replace. After numerous difficult and out of the way off road adventures, my experience is that the LR3 is miles better in reliability than any of its predecessors, especially if an owner keeps up on the regular preventative service.

Mine now has 70k miles, and it is also my DD, yet I take it off road with confidence. I would guess that with the newer year vehicles, the reliability has increased even further. Most offroad issues occur because of too much speed, wrong line, or over aggressive driving. Taking one's time through difficult passages, and letting the vehicle do the work, puts less stress on the vehicle, and is safer anyway.

Check out YouTube - Off Roving the Great Divide II-Day One and see some of the fun we had last year......

[ArmyRover]

Jim nice off roving commercial. Honestly that trail looks like a stock rover could handle it. Of course back in the day some pretty factory RRC's already did.

I'll stick with the reliability and field servicability of a RRC. No computer updates needed. Just a decent set of tools, spares and a driver.

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by jimbiram

Only problem one guy had was he blew fuses from running too much off a plug in power inverter. But a fuse takes all of 30 seconds to replace.

True, but how long does it take to repair the ETC or HDC because the computer is cooked, when you're a 4 day drive from the nearest civilization, and stuck in a ravine because you were relying on electronics to get you out.
There's a big difference between a weekend, or week long, business organized trip with 10 or 20 other vehicles and what the OP is talking about.

[ArmyRover]

Exactly.

[jmrivera]

For daily driver, the LR3 is the way I would go... Occasional off-roading is okay, but then you need to pay more attention the the maintenance, especially the componets that get used the most (TC, suspension, drivetrain, etc.)... The new electronics and functions (air suspension) will enable you the tackle a few more trails without mods., but that's assuming you know how all the features work...

For more off-roading, the RRC... Like everyone said, less electronics = less possible failures...

[Thor]

I'd am happy to DD a 1992 RR that has some modifications to it.

One thing is simply adjusting your driving to suit the vehicle. Light throttle and planning ahead for curves makes it a peaceful vehicle! I've gotten over 'winning the race'.