Chicken Drumstick

Well what cam is it? If it's a stock 3.5 I wouldn't use it in a 3.9, but then I can't really see the point in using a stock 3.9 cam either when there are much better options out there. Is yours a serp 3.9 or a Vee belt? Not sure, but a nagging thought that at some point the cams aren't as interchangeable.

Are they actually longer shocks than stock ones? Afraid I know nothing about this kit, but I suspect many "lift kits" just consist of stiffer and maybe slightly longer springs.

I've been watching this on YouTube: 2013 Ultimate Adventure Week http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGvTvFzdMg_MMpFAtJqtF0nXkcSHBloT- Kinda looks like a cool thing to do, with some interesting vehicles, although as usual in the US, no LR products at all However in Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StTJghDn88Q&list=PLGvTvFzdMg_MMpFAtJqtF0nXkcSHBloT-&index=3 The presenter clearly states he checks all the vehicles before they start, with one requirement being a minimum of 35" tyres!!! Which leads me to my question. Are giant tyres really the be all and end all? Personally I love the monster truck look and was running some 33" Simex's on a Disco 10 years ago, which was quite a rare think in the UK at that time. And I fully appreciate larger tyres increase under the axle clearance as well as improve approach, departure and breakover angles. But is there a size where it really matters less? Watching these US vids it sure looks like fun stuff, but I'd happily tackle many/most maybe even all the obstacles in a well prepped 90 or CCVT vehicle on some 235/85's.... So do 35-38" tyres really let you conquer terrain that the same vehicle on 31-32" tyres wouldn't?

But is that not a different point? For example, when learning to ski you go prepared with the correct level of safety gear and preparation. Where you choose to try and learn or what you ski on isn't really the same thing as the equipment preparation before hand. On this level, is off roading any different? Surely prepping a vehicle correctly with the correct safety equipment is just as key for a novice as an expert. If you chose to abuse it, that's a different matter entirely.

If this is for RTV trials I assume its AWDC rather than ALRC?

I've been thinking about some 255/85's actually. Seems you can get a Creepy Crawler copy in this size called Ziarelli Maxi http://tyresdirectuk.co.uk/shop/product-info.php?prodname=&id=31559 Although they seem to be about the same price as a BFG MT KM2, so not sure how good an option it'd be all things considering.

Interested to see what sort of tyre sizes/types people are running. Post a pic with the size and tread pattern and if lifted/modded or not. (just thought this would be a bit of fun, while interesting at the same time). Mine on some 7.50 Diamonds, although wanting to get something bigger.

So nobody has run these?

I guess I'm a little late to the party here. But for me it depends on the exact vehicle in question, ie how it's stock suspension works to begin with. And the sort of terrain you want to drive on. Personally I think a medium to well setup suspension system and an off road biased TCS is all I need. Lockers sound great in theory, but I can count on 1 hand the times I'd have truly "needed" one.

Just curious as I've never knowingly seen this tread pattern before, so don't know if it's a copy of a popular one or not. I've also never seen or heard of anyone running them either? They look fairly aggressive, although in a traditional way maybe. But the extra cuts/sipes in the blocks look interesting and you don't see that so often on MT's. Deep tread too by the sounds of it. Anyone have these or know how well they work off road? Fedima VJ910 33x12.50R15 108Q "Great off-road performance from Fedima. The unique combination of a tread depth like no other, flexibility and rubber compound makes this tyre a winner in a wide variety of terrain including heavy mud. Will travel legal on road. Top cap tyre built on Maxxis casings. Measures up at 33.5" tall. Tread depth 24mm!!!" http://tyresdirectuk.co.uk/shop/product-info.php?prodname=33x12.50R15-108Q-Fedima-VJ910&id=31367

Op, afraid I can't help you out with the shocks. But you may want to look at SOGA. A product should last for a 'reasonable' amount of time/use. If Terrafirma are happy to claim their products are only designed to last on average less than a year and 4000 miles of normal road use, then that's fine. If not they should be replacing these FOC. http://sogahub.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

That sounds like a very sad tale. But who is to say they wouldn't have done the same thing in a standard 90? At a trial I watched a novice drive up a bank sideways and badly roll a Series III. It was completely stock.

Sorry, but these 'what if' things are a bit silly to compare IMO. Lets start for 1. I've not said anything about lockers and I specifically said NO lift. So you are talking my points out of context before even starting. 2. Use your example and instead of you having a modded vehicle. What if you can't drive at all? In such a situation mods or no mods it'd make no odds. 3. Just because someone has driven a modded rig hardly means they cannot drive a standard one, or at least learn how to on the fly and a lot quicker than a total novice, as evidently they will still have some off road experience 4. What if even the greatest off road driver in the world couldn't drive the stock vehicle back up the axle twisting hill. As said, I really don't think 'what if's' are really worth discussing. Too many variables and no actual substance. But the key point is we are not talking about extreme modded vehicles. Just "properly" prepared ones. And for the record, what if our novice had a stock D2 with traction control and some ok tyres. The TCS will simulate lockers pretty well in many off road situations, or least allow you to do things or get away with things where an open diff'd non TCS D1 wouldn't. Would the advice then be to disable the TCS on the D2?

235/75's will likely fit a Disco fine, 235/85's won't without doing something to it. 235/85's are pretty standard fit on 90/Series. I too have off roaded a Disco, I used to compete in RTV events with one, even managed a trophy in mine at one of the Nationals. But some terrain, particularly on trails sections will be damaging to a Disco, even more so on smaller wheels. Maybe I shouldn't use RTV trails as an example, but as they dictate the course, you don't always as a driver have a huge amount of choice on where you drive. Of course you can fine tune your line and approaches, but not to the same degree you can if you aren't competing. Many people come to RTV trails as their first taste of off roading, or at least their first proper taste. So yes, you often do get very standard vehicles, with very novice drivers attempting some fairly serious terrain. I've seen stock 90's on the wrong tyres slide into trees, where as running some decent off road tyres would in all likelihood have prevented this. Personally I think that is an overly harsh 'lesson' and one not really worth it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying mod mod mod I'm just saying some mods won't degrade from the learning experience and will serve to stop you either damaging the vehicle, or just getting hugely frustrated at not getting anywhere. Bumper mods, steering guard, camel cut and tyres are all sensible things to do if you plan to tackle any sort of challenging terrain. Just as you'd put on walking boots, a warm jacket and some water proofs if you planned to go hiking in the Lake District.

I'm certainly not trying to disagree with your points. But in your example, a novice is far more likely to cause serious damage to a Freelander than your 109, simply because it is more difficult to drive on tough terrain. And if you are less experienced you are unlikely to know what to look for, or what to look out for. Surely as a learning process you don't start with the most challenging and difficult starting point. From this I'm not saying all novice off roaders should be in monster trucks. Just that a completely 100% stock vehicle can be a very steep learning curve and one that isn't always needed to grasp what the lesson is. Although this is condition and terrain specific. Personally tyres and protection are the two main areas I'm talking about. I've seen a stock L322 get stuck on a level field, and I mean completely stuck, and with a well versed and experienced driver. All a novice would have learnt is that in that situation is that a stock trim RR was over matched. A V8 90 on some non standard mud terrains, could not only navigate the terrain with ease, but also drag the Range Rover out. In such an example, having the vehicle prepped for the conditions made all the difference. Another example I can think of was at the ALRC RTV National a couple of years ago. The course went over a huge tree stump. You had no real choice but drive over it if you wanted to compete. A completely stock vehicle, especially on small tyres would just end up in a world of grief (and there are pictures to support this). I was in 90, but suffered damage to the sill panel. Some 'rock sliders' would have allowed me to drive it without damage. In such an example a modded vehicle would have proved the better bet, for any grade of driver.

I do agree that learning is a good thing I'm just not convinced you actually learn anything more in a stock vehicle always. Like the vid you posted with a truck on 37" tyres getting stuck. Surely they'd have only been worse off with a stock vehicle in the same situation. And lets be honest, a stock E reg Ninety would have had no recovery points and would have been on road biased 205's from the factory.

Thanks.

Cheers. Although a couple of years back I saw some screw on vents, they attached to the top of the dash instead of the existing finisher and simply pointed/vented some air at the side windows. I recall they were pricey too, but anyone know where you can get them or similar from?

Do you know where you can get these from? Thanks.

I think this depends what you want to do, the terrain and the vehicle you actually have. Lets not forget a Series in stock guise can easily run 7.50's or 235/85R16's. Which is a fairly sizeable tyre. But think how many people really off road on a set of 205's? That smaller tyre and lower ground clearance is a hindrance. Therefore a Series truck is already fairly well lifted and can run a good tyre size. A Disco in stock trim will be running smaller tyres like 205's, and while it's still a capable machine, it will generally get beached more easily and would work better off road with some 235/85's on. But in order to do this, you'll either need to trim the arches or give it a mild lift. And I can understand why some people don't want to trim the body work. I'm certainly not against learning how to drive something first, but I don't think you need to always be completely stock just to prove a point. It'd be like going on a track day with brake pads not capable of handling 2 hot laps and tyres that'd fall apart 3/4 of the way round the track.

If you need the CAT to pass the MoT emissions test, I'd personally say it isn't a worth while mod to have to faff with it twice a year. The extra power you'll get will be minimal unless you building a whole system. And if you are, then a CAT won't actually be a limiting factor on the HP levels an RV8 produces.

Yes due to the low profile cam of a stock RV8 I can't see a rev limiter being an issue. It'll have done most of its work well before 5000rpm I'd have thought.

I think if I'm reading it right, all you need to do is wire in the headlights as though you would for some aftermarket spot lights. The only difference is you are using the dip beam, not main beam circuit to activate it. You do this as it firstly means the actual power going to the lights doesn't have to pass through the physical light switch. Which could burn out under higher load, but also cause resistance, meaning less actual power to the bulbs. Secondly to have a more efficient wiring setup to the bulbs. The stock wiring when new really wasn't designed for high load and has many connectors and points of resistance, along with a small gauge wire. By passing all of this means you'll get more power the bulbs and they'll illuminate brighter.

There are many mods you can do. And many that won't hurt driving training. I'm not fully convinced you should drive a completely stock truck just to prove how macho you are. I've seen plenty of ill prepared vehicles either fail to get from place to place, suffer huge damage or just cause a lot of bother for others in needing recovery. On the other hand, I do believe in researching and fully understanding every mod before you do it. This way you know if you really need it and what it is trying to attain. With a Disco for off road use I'd look to reducing damage. This means front and rear bumpers and body work. Depending on the terrain you drive on, you may want to consider some sill bars/rock sliders, as bashing up the sill and lower doors is no fun and not easy to repair. The front bumper you can remove the bumper end caps and front spoiler and similar on the rear. I would also trim the rear arch as it's only going to get bent and mangled off road. So do a tidy mod on it now with a jig saw and avoid the bent and crumpled metal later on. And tyres tyres tyres!!! Off roading on rubbish tyres is IMO one of the worst things to do and is very inconsiderate to other off roaders. There are plenty of mild MT's about that will ride perfectly fine on the road, such as Toyo's, BFG's, K71's and many others. Although many more aggressive remould MT's can be perfectly fine on road too. You don't need a lift, in fact don't get a lift until why you know you want one. It'd be nice to fit some 235/85R16 tyres on a Disco, but you'll have to lift or trim to do this. Personally I'd trim the aches. But don't lift it until you know why you are lifting it and what you want from it. Buy smaller tyres if need be to avoid this. Lights are an easy upgrade with higher wattage bulbs or the higer output ones sold by Phillips & Halfords. Being a Tdi you can also tweak the injector pump to make a bit more power if you want too.

Sorry I don't agree with this. A good set of MT's need not ruin the road manners and may well be more friendly to lanes. e.g. You might be able to tick along with MT's on and hardly spin a wheel. While the vehicle on the AT's is having to give it hell for leather with massive wheelspin just to make progress. Driving like this also increases the chance of hitting something too.