LR3 for Overland Travel

[ArmyRover]

Originally Posted by sideview

and the balls

We thought you had balls

Chris said you took his years ago



looked like the current was kicking the rigs butt worse than the depth though.

[sideview]

Originally Posted by ArmyRover

Chris said you took his years ago

Oh that's right, silly me I forgot!

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by ArmyRover

looked like the current was kicking the rigs butt worse than the depth though.

Yeah, should have had the doors open. I noticed the video is gone, but here's another copy of it.
YouTube - LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 nearly SWEPT AWAY IN FORD

[sideview]

How bout this?

[antichrist]

Impressive. I wonder what the outcome was.

[Shepherd6]

ALCON:

I'm planning a 13,800km trek from Japan to Spain and two LR3 SEs are our vehicles. I was intending on using two 110's but after some quality time spent with my british counterparts in Basrah, Iraq I'm sold on the LR3. My team got out of a merlin and were met by two LR3's. eight men, full battle rattle, rucks and all, in two LR3s (rucks tied to the outside). These were stock vehicles (not the usual modded 110s we were used to, ie no roof, .50 mounts etc). Why not the usual vehicles? all broken...no parts. Yep, the british army not 50km from our position and no parts could be dropped to us. our task force requested two vehicles that would WORK and they delivered two brand new lr3 SEs. We were NOT kind to these vehicles.

I came back and bought the vehicles and we're training up now. The only mod's we put on them are roof racks and winchs (some other basic loose recovery gear). all that other stuff makes it look pretty neat, but is useless in an actual wonder across asia (well, it does weigh the vehicle down and make you use more gas...I wouldn't call that a use...). Worried about electronics on your adventure? You should see all the bells and whistles in m1114's and they do fine...for that matter look at the space shuttle. Break an air bladder? where are you driving? I've yet to see the situation (outside of combat) where you HAVE to worry about ruining your car driving. Remember, just because it will go somewhere doesn't mean it must. That being said, we rolled a LR3 last weekend down a small hill. It got a new roof rack and some body work, but it finished the day's training. Speed and a new driver was the enemy, not the vehicle or lack of some kind of special gear.

Oh and never EVER turn your nose up at comfort on long treks...drive 1500km in a hmmwv and you'll understand. I'll take my comfortable seats, good music, AC, Heat, and a strong vehicle any day over some suped up dune buggy that can drive through 10 feet of mud...what kind of idiot drives through the river... proper prior planning will take you to a BRIDGE. Abuse the vehicle and the vehicle will break. Abuse it badly it will break badly.

tell ya what if I'm wrong and we leave a vehicle in Ulan Bator I'll buy ya'll a beer for every 100km we failed to travel.

Shepherd 6 out.

[sideview]

Sounds like a great trip Shepard 6, best of luck & safe journeys Are you keeping a trip report on a blog or anything?

[Shepherd6]

We have a website guy who is currently trying to figure out the domain name...I had no idea. Drive across Eurasia? Easy. Set up a web site...well, that may take some doing...

I'll post the site when we get it. we have these little GPS tags that will show where we are at all times and we'll be blogging via inmarsat/iridium/broadband wireless.

Hey, those of you who still think you should fear the LR3's computers...I spoke with Land Rover actual today about what systems we could rip out in the field and run on pure mechanics...you'd be amazed. long story short...LR3 may well be the best vehicle on earth...

[jimbiram]

Bravo! Look forward to hearing your trip report and proving the great worth of the LR3 for extended treks....

[Bhos]

Originally Posted by jimbiram

Bravo! Look forward to hearing your trip report and proving the great worth of the LR3 for extended treks....

X2

[troverman]

We are new converts to LR3 after years of solid-axle equipped, Rover-V8 powered Land Rovers. As for a comment about "sharp sticks" puncturing airbag suspension, it won't happen. The rubber bladder is wrapped in a lightweight steel shield, both front and rear springs. The shock absorbers ride inside all of this; very well protected, and much different arrangement than a P38 or Classic or DII w/ rear EAS.

As for electronic systems, I can tell you the LR3 w/ Terrain Response off will go virtually everywhere it can go with it on. If there was ANY ABS-related fault on our DII, you instantly get ABS, HDC, and ETC lights on. This meant the ETC was disabled. Without a lockable center differential, you would get stuck whenever any wheel lost traction! I found out you could still lock the diff rather awkwardly from under the truck (the access is bad and you can't see what you're doing) but this is no good in water or in mud, and not real good in snow. The LR3, even if it has a fault, is much more adaptable. It also does not rely solely on ETC like the DII. (it has locking center diff). The likelihood of computer failure is slim to none for many years on LR3. Even the DII wasn't going to have a computer fail, it would just be the sensors feeding inputs to the ECU. Modern software has better adaption strategies for faults in the sensors. The most well-known computer failures in Rovers is the BECM in the gen-2 Range Rover; this was due to water ingress. With a soldering iron and a few simple electronic parts (capacitors, resistors, MOSFETS, etc) a field-repair could be effected.

I feel the LR3 is a superior vehicle to all past Land Rovers. There will be stories of catastrophic failures on 'electronic' Rovers, but I think these are the exception. And lets not pretend there aren't problems with older, simpler Rovers.

[Thor]

Yeah... but can you get 35's on it?

hahaha!

I'll keep my RR1, the LR3 looks like a short bus to me. I guess if you're inside you won't be bothered by that.

I always thought Discoverys were women's cars while Range Rovers were men's cars.
Just like the Firebird and Camaro, Firebirds were men's while Camaros are women's.
Am I way off? hahahaha

[jake_ak_cent]

yeah a womens car is a van, crossover, or hybrid. or a VW bug.

The LR3 is a great vehicle. it of course has its pros and cons.
Same with the D1, D2, and RR. from my point of view, i have seen trails that require a lift and at least 33" tires. a lift would mean a d1 d2 or rr. but thats just a trail. the lr3 is great but you are calling a bunch of optional acessories stock. they aint stock you dumb ass. you have to pay for them just like you would have to for a D1, 2, or RR. LR3's can handle most anything. they were made to do good in any situation thrown at it. but Discos and Ranges where fuckin born in the wilderness. they go lookin for trouble like a kid lookin for some mud to play in. and you can get a well setup one for about half the price of a used stock lr3.

there is no better choice here. they are pretty much the same thing people. the lr3 is newer and has some tvs in it. you can put tvs in a d1. decided to get that center locking diff? well i can go buy locking diffs for a d1. but you cant buy a lift for an lr3. that is the only thing settin the 2 apart. some feels that makes it better. others think that that makes it a mud buggy and you should just go find a bridge. but if there aint no bridge, that mud buggy looks pretty sick right about now.

your looking at your reflection, and saying it isnt as good but its the same

[sideview]

Oi, who would want 35's for overland travel? Thor, I think you need to get on that short bus, you're missing the topic of this thread

[jake_ak_cent]

hahahaha