help needed as looking at taking my disco off road

[dminto69]

hi all i hope someone on here can help me i have got a n reg disco and am looking at taking it off road but it is not ready for the off road scene yet so i need to know what i need and if anyone as got any items for sale or the best place to buy the parts from .all help is welcome and most definately needed as i dont want to look a prat the first time i go out by damaging the landrover all the best and thankyou

[sparkes]

Hi

Simple answer to your question is a place to go. Your car is already capable of going off road big time.

However (bet you knew that was coming!)

Get some AT tyres before you do anything else. Thats all I am running at the moment and it makes a massive difference. this weekend just gone I was out and had to tow a RR classic and a 110 out because both had road tyres.

The rest is down to recovery and protection. My next purchase is a winch to make sure I can get out if I get into trouble

Steve

[dminto69]

hi steve and thanks
i have been told to get a 2 inch lift and some m t tyres and then guard underneath i just dont know if all this is neccessery straight away

[johnpirate]

I've got standard height suspension.I dont feel the need for a lift.You get to 2inch and they start going on about camber and the way it feels on the motorway.Plus I've only got little legs  :lol: .I run Grizzley claws when off-roading I have a snorkel as well because sometimes I get a bit silly.I have a steering guard fitted for the same reason. I also have front and rear diff guards.If you have been playing in real gloopy mud take the diff guards off and wash behind,otherwise the mud rests against the diff pan and can cause rot. Guess how I found out .! :lol:

[dminto69]

thankyou for that  had a laugh with little legs bit ,so 2 inch lift is a waste of time and what kind of money did you pay for your grizzly claws as these are what im looking for but i need them on steel rims

[the loon]

Hi dminto69 not sure if your new to all this so sorry if sounds a little patronising
Probably best investment you can make you have already mentioned - mud tyres -apart from that I would saw get a steering guard and some diff guards.
Bear in mind though that if you fit diff quards (the standard bolt on type) that you need to jack the rear up as the fuel tank does not allow enougth room between diff and tank to just slot in

With he steering guard get the type that has recovery points on as the standard tow point isnt strong enougth.Alternativley if you dont want the steering guard or cant aford one yet consider getting some jate rings.

Also get your self some rated shackels and a tow strop if theres a machine mart near you then you can pick up a good tow strop for about £20 and shackels are about £5 each alternativley theres plenty of companies in the land rover magazines who offer good quality recovery kit at sensible prices.

I have a priety standard 200tdi and all I've done so far is fit steering guard and diff guards.
Used to have a modified 90 (2" lift big mud tyres etc etc) and was plesently suprised when got the disco as to just how capabul it was in the mud.
If you need any more help just drop me a PM and should  soon have you out in the mud
 :D

[dminto69]

landyloony you have a pm

[johnpirate]

I bought the Grizzleys from Bronco when at Billing.If you go on www.bronco4x4.com You will find all you need to know.I got 235/70x16s They warned me they would touch on full lock. And they were right.I,m looking next time to replace them with Anaconda's or the Bronco version .Apparently they are almost as good off-road with better road manners.You can hear Grizzleys at 1/2 a mile away.I managed to fit my Diff guard without jacking it up. I got it from Rebel 4x4 fitted no probs.

[sparkes]

Here's an Idea.

As you are only in Derby, how about next sunday you get down to Gaydon and have a mooch around the show.  Should be a few stands there with gear.

Willing to meet up and offer no help at all but willing to get the tea's in and have a laugh

Steve

[driftwood]

as mensioned, you vehicle is a very capable bit of kit standard.

alot on the market etc are just big boys toys, alot of it you dont need if you are just starting. if you want to just go laning then i would reccommend , the a/t or m/t tyres. you do not have to spend a fortune on tyres get yourself some remolds for half the price, this will get you started. you can always upgrade at a later date.

the second thing is the recovery...good recovery, jate ring are the simplist to start you off but yes you can progress onto a steering guard with recovery or a bumper later on.
laning should be quite tame, appart from the odd few, if it looks rather damaging then simply miss that lane out untill you get all the kit you want.

after those two then you can have a look at protection, i wouldnt go out a buy loads of kit untill you know what you want from your vehicle, ie, serious offroader, expedition or just to potter about laning?

[old joe]

protection is the name of the game and recovery get your diff guards thats what i was advsied by turtle and i pass this message on to any offroader whether you spend 99% of the time on the road it's amazing what chuink is left on the uk road network so get your diff guards mate then worry about the rest of it.

again this just my own thought and you must do what you think right obi-wan

dazza

[freeagent]

don't bother with the suspension lift... yet.
you need things in this order...

education and common sense
first aid kit
waterproofs and boots.
recovery points, front and rear.
recovery rope and shackles.
spade.
A/T or M/T tyres, A/T if they are to be your only set, M/T if you are going to keep your existing road tyres.
steering protection.
CB's are good if you are going out as a group..

you can take it from there realy, that lot will help you keep up on green lane days and play days...

if you go for a suspension lift, be prepared for the agro that might go with it...

[TimM]

The main think I think you need when going off road or greenlaning is backup (friends), whether you have a standard car or a modified monster, the worst thing that could happen is that you get stuck ALONE. No matter how good your tow-rope is, whichout another vehicle to attach it too you are staying there for a long time.

Hopefully we can help there too  

We have a pub meet on the first Wednesday in the month up the A38 from you (8PM, The Castlewood, Just off the A38 300yds East of Junction 28 of the M1).

Come to our meet, there will be some kitted up discos there, we can show you what people are talking about here, and the following Sunday (7th) there is a mud-Club laning trip around the peak district, which shouldn't be too far from you, there are a few of us from the pub meet going, and we could lead you round and make sure you make it home in one piece after having a good day out  :D

As for where to get parts, if you read the monthly comics you will see adverts for Paddock Motors, and you find they are only up the road from you in Matlock - lots of use them (other suppliers are available   ), but as they are on your doorstep I'd start there.

[simdeb]

don't forget any changes i.e. lifts (4 inch) they do drive differently to standard
ours has a 4 inch lift plus bigger tyres and as the kids say it sways and rolls
off road tyres can also make a difference to road tyres too!
but they do look good though

Debbie

[TimM]

they do drive differently to standard

Good point  

Only make the modifications you NEED, don't mess about with your vehicle to make it look good if you then do a lot of motorway miles.

Take it off road first then see where you think it is lacking  :?

[Range Rover Blues]

I'd echo Tim's advice (guess who he rings when he's stuck ) the first thing you need to buy is a pint when you turn up at the castlewood.

Your car is very capable as it is so don't go chucking your money about unless it's burning a hole in your pocket, look at the mods some of us have done and ask 'why'.

For example you have already touched on the lift/no lift question.  To help you answer this one I've spent around £800 doing this 'properly' ie cranked rear links, castor corrected arms, brake lines, bump stops, dampers and springs.  Still want to lift it?

You'd also be amazed how far road tyres will take you, if the car is driven well, just ask Keith57 about his little Vitara :shock:

So come on a laning day with the rest of us and see those mods put into action, or not as the case may be.  There's the trip on the 7th and another in north notts at the end of next month, specifically aimed at standard cars :D .

If you're coming out with us you might want

front diff guard
CB
solid front recovery point (rear towbar is fine)

but no more than that.  Green lanes are public roads, so you shouldn't need heavy Recovery gear and as the lanes will have been recce'd the risk of you getting stuck is greatly reduced, we carry all the recovery gear you'll need and can advise you which bits to buy once you've seen them.

[TimM]

I'd echo Tim's advice (guess who he rings when he's stuck )

Damn, my secrets out  :oops:

the first thing you need to buy is a pint when you turn up at the castlewood.

 :shock:  Did I hear talk of free pints  :D

[Range Rover Blues]

the first thing you need to buy is a pint when you turn up at the castlewood.

 :shock:  Did I hear talk of free pints  :D

That should read "the  first thing you need to buy is Me and Tim a pint" then should it? :lol:

[TimM]

Well it's not fair to expect loyalduke to buy all of them is it  :lol:

(Just charge them to table 30 like last time  :lol: )

[Disco_Al]

Hi all,
I have recently purchased an L reg disco no modifications what-so-ever on brand new road tyres, and it does more than i expected. Example,

At the last ENLROC pay-n-play day down at Cranford St John i was following the best of em (as far as my balls would take me any way :shock: )

Oh yeah i was the idiot that almost rolled it down the bank!  :oops: (sorry bout that lol)

Cheers
Al.