Green laning vehicle selection

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s1chris

New Member
Posts
11
Location
Coventry
Hello all,

You may have seen my introduction which explains my current position regarding not owning a Landrover but I have a few additional questions for the green laning regulars.

1) I am yet to purchase a vehicle so with an initial budget of £800 to get a vehicle requiring work what would be most suitable? Defender 90 or older Disco? Or other?

2) I guess the list could be endless but what would be the first key vehicle mods to make green laning and off road as sensible as possible.

3) In terms of additional equipment what again is a minimum. Winch? CB radio? Spades etc?

Just trying to put the long term plan in place and then it's time to get busy.

Help appreciated.

Cheers Chris
 
Running is not critical. I have my daily drive and this will be just for fun and something to work on.

Ok so Defender theoretically out of the question but honestly, that's why I asked what would be suitable in that price range as a good base.
Suggestions on what and suitability?

Cheers Chris
 
Disco is your only Option. For 800 you Will need the following kit.

Welder
Strops
Shackles
Towing points
Decent tyres

Always go out in groups so group Will have the rest for now.

You Will want
High lift jack
Diff guards
Steering guards
Snorkel
Waffle boards
Camping stove + supplies
Spade
Spares
 
Yer that 200tdi money, you might get a 300tdi on the cheap if you look about as well.

Upping the budget slightly will get you one with most of the core off road mods done like MT or AT tyres, snorkel, wading kit, CB, decent recovery points. I know someone selling one locally for £1250, even got a years MOT, just needs taxing.
 
Great info thanks.

I all intention of doing this properly so abiding by road Laws (BOAT's only etc)
The £800 is just the budget for initial purchase and I don't mind spending on it after that point. Part of the fun is modding and maintaining and if I wanted to just go green laning I'd have gone out and bought something new and suitable instead of my very soft roader Tiguan.

Glad I stumbled across this site and opened the world of green laning.
I picked up a couple if OS maps at the weekend to see what's around locally.
Only one close by that's marked on the map and upon closer inspection decide my Tig is not suitable and that it's time to take the plunge into LR ownership.

I drive manual cars but is there an advantage over one or the other for this use?

Cheers Chris
 
s1chris said:
Great info thanks.

I all intention of doing this properly so abiding by road Laws (BOAT's only etc)
The £800 is just the budget for initial purchase and I don't mind spending on it after that point. Part of the fun is modding and maintaining and if I wanted to just go green laning I'd have gone out and bought something new and suitable instead of my very soft roader Tiguan.

Glad I stumbled across this site and opened the world of green laning.
I picked up a couple if OS maps at the weekend to see what's around locally.
Only one close by that's marked on the map and upon closer inspection decide my Tig is not suitable and that it's time to take the plunge into LR ownership.

I drive manual cars but is there an advantage over one or the other for this use?

Cheers Chris
Click to expand...

Yes I have looked into and seems the best choice. Have owned an auto once before but was a winter ****ter. You can lock the auto box for more control. Nice to drive in traffic too. Others Will argue manual so the best bet is to drive both.
 
My last 6 cars have been Discoverys for about £600 each. The rest of what you need is up to where you want to go laning in it. Most lanes will only need decent tyres (keep an eye on ebay) and a snorkel (about £100 from Craddocks) along with a few minor mods to have some absolute cracking budget days out. I have been out with lots of Defenders and have found the Disco will go all but the most difficult of places they do. Also because you haven't spent loads you don't mind scratches and dents. You are looking to buy one at the wrong time of year really as the prices go up and more people want them with the panic of the first fall or threat of snow. You can add more mods at your leisure then such as diff guards and a steering guard. A winch is only essential if you go out alone. Decent straps and shackles will suffice with teamwork

Good hunting
 
jacobscreek said:
My last 6 cars have been Discoverys for about £600 each. The rest of what you need is up to where you want to go laning in it. Most lanes will only need decent tyres (keep an eye on ebay) and a snorkel (about £100 from Craddocks) along with a few minor mods to have some absolute cracking budget days out. I have been out with lots of Defenders and have found the Disco will go all but the most difficult of places they do. Also because you haven't spent loads you don't mind scratches and dents. You are looking to buy one at the wrong time of year really as the prices go up and more people want them with the panic of the first fall or threat of snow. You can add more mods at your leisure then such as diff guards and a steering guard. A winch is only essential if you go out alone. Decent straps and shackles will suffice with teamwork

Good hunting
Click to expand...


Thanks for the inspiring comments.
I think the disco will suffice until I get the hang of being off the Tarmac. I'm not looking to drive up the side of mountains just yet. Scratches and dents are fine by me as one they can be repaired and two I'll probably end up adding a few myself to it.
I've noticed the reference to "perfect for the snow" in the majority of adds that I've seen. Got a couple on eBay I'm keeping my on and even got the nod from the missus to make a purchase so let's hope a god one falls within budget.

Cheers Chris
 
If the car you look at has only been used on the road check for functioning hi/lo and diff lock lever. Sometimes when it aint been used for ages it is stuck firm. This is usually an easy fix but a good price bargaining point. You explain you will need it working and could be an expensive repair (wink wink)
 
Don't discount Range Rover Classic's, you can get them for about £800 but will need welding at some point. You might even get a Series landy for that, mate got a very good one for £900.

Where abouts do you live Chris?
 
Clearly a very helpful forum, bonus.

Stutab - I'm in Coventry, Midlands. Yeah, one needing welding and tlc to get going is exactly what I want. Although I'm keen to get out in the lanes I'm quite happy spending the next 6 months or more preparing and repairing one to make sure I do it all the correct way and only once.

I'm having fun just exploring the yellow , less than 4m wide roads in my local areas at the minute in my Tiguan and I figured it would be good practice getting used to driving a larger vehicle in tighter spaces at slower speeds before going laning in a purpose built vehicle.

Cheers Chris
 
Last edited:
Am sure for £800 you will pick up a Disco with some tax and mot. A lot of lanes can be done in standard form. There are some very good condition V8 ones going for a song because of running costs. Check out Autotrader. It's where I have found most of mine. Be patient and check Autotrader etc regularly
 
To be honest mate, Defenders, Disco's & RR's are pretty capable vehicles as they come and you don't need to spend shed loads of money prepping them for laning. After you get one, any money you have left over spend on any faults that need doing/rectifying rather than off road mods. No good having the worlds most capable truck if it comes home on the back of a recovery truck after every trip. Once you have the reliability side covered (and they're not bad considering the abuse they get), then start looking carefully at what you need mod wise. I say carefully as a lot of stuff people bolt on is just pointless IMO and adds nothing other than looking a bit macho and sticking out like a sore thumb when laning. As well as vehicle mods look at some decent recovery gear too, (and practice with it). :)
 
Yer its a good idea to give it a full service when you get it, change all the oils, do the cambelt if you dont know when it was last done and just generally check it over.

Snorkel and wading plugs/extended breathers are only required if you are going swimming so really the first thing to sort is the tyres as even a standard car on decent tyres can do very well on all but the trickiest green lanes.

Oh and make sure you go out in a group as if you get stuck on your own then you are f$&*%d
 
Thanks Guy's.

Rest assured I'm not going anywhere in a vehicle unless I'm 100% confident that it is mechanically sound. Depending on the condition of the one I eventually buy I plan to replace as much of the critical serviceable components as is economically possible. Brakes all around and suitable tyres and new set of wheels (from work) will be done for sure. Then I will get the Snorkel and waterproof the beast as much as possible.

Also, having read the LZIR threads I can see that goin it alone is not a good idea. To be honest I wouldn't anyway. I need to learn how it's done from those who know an have experience. Just hope I have the funds in place ASAP now.

Cheers Chris
 
Some good advice above. Get the landy in good service. When you come to something that you can't get through or over find what you need to do it. Protection is the best way to spend money, only buy toys if you need them. That's from personal experience as well.
 
If you want a proper Land Rover take a look at a Series III, insurance, parts, ease of maintenance far cheaper and easier than any Disco or RR.
 
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