Mongrel

As per the title really, I'm looking at doing some pay and play days, friendly punch competitions and some green laneing. I don't have a winch but obviously need a recovery rope. Will this suit/ If not, why not and apart from shackles, what else should I have. I'm fitting Jates and bridle to the front with a 'pin' type tow bar at the rear. Thanks. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-MTS-X-28-MM-3-STRAND-NYLON-RECOVERY-TOW-ROPE-/280735981694?pt=UK_Recovery_Tools&hash=item415d2b207e

I'm looking at fitting Jate rings to the front of my Discovery 1. I've been reading up a bit about them and seem to be finding differing opinions about whether to use forged, welded or stainless steel rings. One post talks about the welded rings deforming and even breaking, another about forged cracking and catastrophically failing and another that was saying the stainless ones are too thin and not strong enough... So, recommend whatever you use please people, and any pluses or minuses.

That you can count on. In another hobby, I had quite a few helping hands in the early days. I now run a small syndicate that I set up off my own back and intiative that gives other people the chance to put the theory into practice. I like to think that I have put back in as much, and then some, as I got out of it, but now I do it beacuse it gives me a sense of well being and I enjoy meeting similarily minded people. It's a good thing you have the right equipment for traversing causeways, although you might want to look at building an amphibious off roader!

This one had an ARB diff locker and compressor attached, that was my main interest.

John is running an open day this weekend, I'm going to pop down for a chat. Somerset's not so far and certainly viable when things warm up, I may well do a long weekend and take you up on that extremely generour offer when the weather improves, appreciated, thanks.

Well that was short lived! Why do people put stuff on Fleabay when they are going to end it early if/when someone makes a good enough offer? Three days left and ended early as 'no longer available'.

I am looking at training at the moment but have only really found John Morgan at 4x4 driving, Sussex at the moment, there are others but they are further out and to be honest, until I get an idea of the going rate, and not knowing of any of them, I'm flying a little blind. I will do a lot more digging before parting with any cash though! Point taken about steering/diff/track rods, thanks.

Perfect, thanks guys.

I have tried a search but haven't found the answer yet...so, would a Defender 10 spline diff fit into my 200 TDI rear axle? I'm assuming the rear axles must be different but I'm potentialy looking at doing a diff swap over.

Just as well as I suspect the budget or ability won't stretch that far....although the Defender 90 challenge truck in the sales section looks like a good start point!

Blimey! That was an eye opener! Bunch of bloody loons!

Muchos Gracias, sure I'll find it from this. I know Shelbridge lane and suspect the site may well be more or less at the end of a mates road, I've seen some muddy trucks pulling out of a gateway there, I just hadn't put two and two together.

It's recently been fully poly bushed, but will take a look next time I'm under her.

i've had a look on the website and can't find a site address for Slindon, or any timings? Can someone point me in the right direction, I know where Slindon is and will be coming in from the A27 side.

After having it drilled into me that the most important thing is maintenance, maintenance, maintenance, I had my Disco over a pit today to look at where the slackness is in the transmission. This manifests itself as freeness and then a clunk in take up or between changing direction of travel (forward and back). There seems to be movement in both axle diffs and the transfer box. Is this 'normal'? If not, where should I expect some movement and where should there be none? The attached video will give an idea of how much and where. Apologies for the quality, it was done on the phone and then YouTube degraded it even further, but, it gives an idea of how much and where. Apologies also for the coarseness of my fellow garage dweller! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g7PZH6ihRo

Once again, thank you everyone again for all the posts and suggestions, I'm sure you get 'reet tired of answering the same old newb questions but it has given me the impetus to go n find out more!

Oh my word! Just been looking through the Mud Monsters website and pics! Now I Know how little I can do! Ref: Slindon, can non-members spectate? I'd love to come and see what its all about. It will also give me a chance to see first hand how and where things need attaching!

From the top.... Tow ball and pins are rated, is 4 ton adequate, or maybe 3.5 is enough? I'm thinking of fitting a steering guard, is it a better idea to use separately mounted jate rings or are you ok using the mounts on a steering guard? I did see the heavy duty arms, they don't come up cheap though do they! Any particularly decent suppliers. As for C.B., welll....that only works if you have someone to radio to! Also been looking at tow strops. What length and rating should I be looking at for these? Sorry to be so full of questions, but the more I read the more questions I get!

Having read 4 pages of 'who's most likely to kill themself?', I think you lot have probably got me just about scared enough to question my ability to navigate the bumpy farm tracks I potter around!

Awww MAN! Proper newbie mistake! Rectified now thanks. I'll take a look at at local Trials clubs but was looking more toward doing a bit of lightish laning intially just to see how much I enjoyed it. Most posts are advocating tow points which seems sensible, will the tow bar suffice intially, it's just a ball type but the bracketry and mounting is rock solid? She already sits on Hankook Dynapro MT's which have made a world of difference on the chalk and clay around the farms, not got stuck yet...but not really tried that hard either! I'm assuming things like snorkels and winches are in the 'nice to have but not really needed to start with' bracket? Many thanks for all of your responses.

Evening all and hello! As you can no doubt see this is a first post, and to be honest is a feeler as to whether I can/will get further into the joys of Land Rover ownership! I have a Discovery 200 Tdi, bit tatty round the edges, lacquers beginning to look like a discarded snake skin, but, on a rock solid chassis, with a decent engine. I have a bit of slack in the gearboxes/props/uj's etc, but they've not bothered me enough yet to really go hunting them down! It's road legal with a new MOT but is mainly used for getting me to and around a couple of local farms that I have cause to access. I quite fancy doing some more off road work with her and getting a bit more challenging terrain under her. So, what would the professionals say are the bare requirements for getting out there and finding out whether it's for me? Am I best off looking toward pay and play days or trying to finding some relatively local green laners to tag along with? I must admit it's the green laning and social side of that that appeals more. Many thanks.