[M25]

I have no mod’s on my 03 Disco. I don’t even have a tow hitch. (no recovery points at all) I did enjoy my first off road event this past weekend(see attached). What should be my bare minimum protection I should get? I would need to go in small steps.

What was your first mod? And any suggestions on how to explain this to my wife. Any words of wisdom from you experienced married couples would be much appreciated.


Thanks!
:dunno:

 

[bernardmann]

I have no mod’s on my 03 Disco. I don’t even have a tow hitch. (no recovery points at all) I did enjoy my first off road event this past weekend(see attached). What should be my bare minimum protection I should get? I would need to go in small steps.

What was your first mod? And any suggestions on how to explain this to my wife. Any words of wisdom from you experienced married couples would be much appreciated.


Thanks!
:dunno:

I, too, have just caught the mod bug. I have an 03 Disco S as well. My first upgrade was my brakes - I just ordered DBA's today. My next mod is going to be bigger tires (BFG 265/75/16's) which I am mounting on my stock 16" rims. At the same time, I'm going to get the rims powder coated black. Then, my next mod will be an RTE suspension lift.

As for the wife, the brakes needed to be done, so all she knows is that I needed new brakes - no need to say I got the more expensive "Gucci" DBA's! :shifty: As for the tires, the stock Michelins are about $200 each, whereas the BFG's can be found for about $155 - $165 each - a substantial savings for a set of 5 over the stock ones! :shifty: As for the RTE lift, I think my stock suspension will start having issues, if you know what I mean.

 

[ibjettin]

M25, Did you work on cars before you got married??? You could use the "it's a guy thing" or "I miss the days when I could go out and tool on my car" excuses. I always tooled on cars and my wife would hang out and watch me get all dirty working on the '64 bug that I drove when we first met She knows that "it's in my blood"


Granted my taste cost a bit more money now :drink1:

 

[me.guevara]

I'm with Bernardmann on this one: my wife always "knew" that getting the Beast fixed was expensive; now I just get some "better" replacement parts!

It helps that the stealeship here marks stuff up about 2x what you are used to, so, with that "budget" I can have John C ship me the goodies...

My first "mod" is on its way: a Mean Green alternator and a set of magnecor wires. But there's more to come!

 

[Rover Nick]

Your first mod should be Recovery Points. I haven't yet nedded to use them, but I really wouldn't want to be stuck w/out them. The easiset would be the rear hitch. Just get a shackle and pin it on. Until you get that at least carry a pin so you can put the chain in the hitch and pin the chain in.

 

[01001010]

Well, first of all, spend some money on atleast some Jate Rings, a HighLift, a 30" 30,000lbs recovery strap, a HighLift recovery kit, and a 30" chain. For a first timer goin out with other guys, those are the bare essentials. Before you even touch your truck, you need to get some gear. Get some tools that can permanently stay in the truck.

After that, work out the truck's bugs (being that its so new, i doubt it has as many as a lot of the D1s on here)...then start modifying according to the terrain you're driving on, or by what you want to do with your truck.

My first "mod" was a replacement OME Damper...that could be considered a mod since I upgraded from the stock damper. But the first OFFICIAL Modification was cutting my endcaps for more clearance.

 

[OkieRover]

Hellas.

 

[llesra]

my first upgrade was shocks

 

[98RRover]

PIAA XT90's and 22" rims

 

[roverX]

Um....yeah...my first mod was the front bumper...oh wait...did you mean on purpose?

 

[keptin]

first upgrade besides decent recovery points was a 3" OME lift (springs & shocks).....

.....I only removed my bumper after I bashed those pretty hellas out.....was totally worth it.

 

[Funrover]

Well all my mods came as I wheeled...first was a lift...I snaped my original shocks on the trail and so to get the extra hieght needed I lifted...Next came the trimming away of metal...I slipped of a rock and bent the metal...so I cut it off...... The exhaust...same as metal trim.....Recovery poinst were next...This was just as a precautionary....... Then tires...more clearence and better grip...

I would get recovery points first!!!!

 

[Monty]

I agree with most here. Get recovery points front and rear with some tow straps. Then think about smaller stuff like tire deflators, co2 or some kind of air source and tow straps.

My first mod was the k&n filter but I've done some other stuff since then. I think cup holders were second. Trimming my front bumper came third.

 

[roverX]

Well all my mods came as I wheeled...first was a lift...I snaped my original shocks on the trail and so to get the extra hieght needed I lifted...Next came the trimming away of metal...I slipped of a rock and bent the metal...so I cut it off...... The exhaust...same as metal trim.....Recovery poinst were next...This was just as a precautionary....... Then tires...more clearence and better grip...

I would get recovery points first!!!!

Did someone say exhaust?

 

[Funrover]

tow straps.

I guess this was they very first!!!! This is a must...I use it all the time..When it snow I go out and pull out people all over town!!!

 

[Muddy Oval]

Recovery points- get a hitch on there to protect that bumper and act as a sturdy recovery point. JATE rings are NOT suitable for recovery work! They are designed to tie a rig to a platform and are not intended for snatch loads. Winching, yes- to a point. It's better than nothing, but not safe for inertial recoveries.

You have to plan your mods carefully- if you get tyres before a lift, you may end up with smaller ones than you want. Experience is more important than mods, so maybe spend some of the money on a school or a trip with some experienced people.

 

[Monty]

Did someone say exhaust?

Yeah, my resonator fell victim to the sawzall. buh bye :wave:

 

[keptin]

hehe roverx....made me remember.

I never put it on, but the previous owner added a Dynomax catback and 3" dia exhaust. He also added the 2002 cupholder which are probably the best mod you can possibly get for the price......id say even over the time spent bumper cutting (DI cutting doesnt count....so easy) And about the K&N filter.....I guess that was my very first mod.

 

[Rippers]

What was your first mod? And any suggestions on how to explain this to my wife. Any words of wisdom from you experienced married couples would be much appreciated.


Thanks!
:dunno:

#1 Recovery points and kinetic recovery rope

#2 Dielectric grease - everything!

#3 Tires (also a good time to do a lift when adding tires - dont forget the shocks!)

#4 And depending where you wheel - rock sliders - here in FL rock sliders are not so important.

#5 Front Winch Bumper.

#6 Winch and dual batteries - preferably gel/deep cycle - I use this and this

and don't forget a tool box with all different size wrenches, WD-40, more dielectric grease, electrical connection cleaner, screw drivers..... and Duct tape!


But really if you are going out witha group (as you should!) recovery points are a MUST - you'll be pleasantly surprised what these things can do stock.

I'm lucky, my better half has a Discovery that gets offroaded as well - it's a hobby we share together!

Oh yeah, lots of wax - will help trees limbs slide right off - heavy heavy wax job will keep your truck looking nice after a romp in the forest!

HAVE FUN!

 

[Disco]

Warning! Warning!

Beware of doing mods, it's highly contagious. If you don't believe me, ask SCSL.