Off road .. brilliant! (long)

N

Nikki Cluley

Guest

• Sep 27, 2004

• #21

in article [email protected], T i m at
[email protected] wrote on 27/9/04 9:28 am:

> On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 07:22:28 GMT, "Hirsty's" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>> So, looks like 'we' need some form of 4X4 then ... ;-)
>>>
>>
>> Lanr Rover, the only one )
>
> You could be right ..
>
> However someone did mention the Lada 'Niva' (is it?) .. especially for
> someone on a budget who wanted to just have a bit off cheap off road
> fun?
>
> Or what ... <shrug>
>
> A mate is currently restoring a 110 (he's down to the chassis at the
> moment welding on outriggers etc) and has a lightweight in the drive.
> He also had to option on a couple of other LR's (details unknown) but
> what should I look for please?
>
> All the best ..
>
> T i m

We started off with just a Discovery(4 kids and 3 of them in carseats don't
fit in the back of a Volvo estate)...now we've got four...and Bruce who
swore that he'd never mend cars...does that as well.

According to the Land Rover Owner Mag, the Discovery I is the second best
off-roader...and I love my Discovery.


--
Nikki

1990 Discovery V8i
1985 Range Rover V8
1975 88" Series III 2.25 petrol
1979 Series III Lightweight 2.25 petrol

 

T

T i m

Guest

• Sep 27, 2004

• #22

On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 16:36:35 +0100, Nikki Cluley
<[email protected]> wrote:


>We started off with just a Discovery(4 kids and 3 of them in carseats don't
>fit in the back of a Volvo estate)...now we've got four...and Bruce who
>swore that he'd never mend cars...does that as well.

Hmm .. ;-)
>
>According to the Land Rover Owner Mag, the Discovery I is the second best
>off-roader...and I love my Discovery.

So what was No1 (out of interest ..?) Nikki ?

All the best ..

T i m

 

S

Simon Barr

Guest

• Sep 27, 2004

• #23

In article <[email protected]>, T i m wrote:
>>
>>http://www.glass-uk.org/
>
> Hmm, looks interesting .. I wonder if I could do that with the Rickman
> Ranger (M&S tryes),(as long as I bring my own tow rope) ;-)
>

Not sure what a Ranger is so I did a google.

Hmm.. kit car based on the mk2 escort. You would be able to do some lanes
around Herts as a few are little more than dirt tracks. Others are maybe
a bit too much for it though. As for tyres, you dont necessarily need mud
ones to be able to go laning. The Niva never had more than AT's and the
110 has got M&S tyres on. Saying that I am planning to get some muds as
the extra grip would be nice.

>>I think most areas have a monthly meet. In Herts we normally head out laning
>>the following Sunday.
>
> Hmm, which Sunday would that be and where would we 'head out from' if
> we lived in Herts perchance ..? ;-)
>

The monthly meet is at the Long and Short in Lemsford nr WGC, second Wed
of every month. The following Sundays trip is normally planned that night
along with the meeting place. Quite often we meet at the 24hr Tescos next
to the A1 in Hatfield, but the place varies. We don't always drive Herts
either but try to vary a bit. The furthest we've made it is to the north
Norfolk coast having driven the Peddars Way!

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Sep 27, 2004

• #24

On or around Mon, 27 Sep 2004 08:23:02 GMT, T i m <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>Talking to one of the guys at the event yesterday he suggested that he
>was looking for a 90 or 110 but there were all out of his budget. He
>ended up with a Disco at about half what he would have paid for the
>alternative? But, I'm not sure if I want a Disco ... ?

I wasn't sure either, but I have to admit that I'm slowly falling in love
with it...

straight out of the box, the 90 is probably the most capable off-road,
thanks to the short wheelbase and short overhangs.

mind, for cheap-to-buy fun, I don't reckon you can beat a middle-aged Range
Rover, something around early-mid-80s, which are seriously cheap at the
moment, especially a V8. If you don't intend to do much mileage, then the
fuel consumption is less of a problem, and they're loads of fun and make a
lovely noise. if you get a 3.9, they're a bit more pricey to buy but
faster... the only thing to watch for is corrosion problems, and for that,
you just need a RR expert to take with you when viewing prospects. Other
than that, the parts are mostly pretty cheap, the off-road performance is
pretty much identical to the disco (hardly surprising, same chassis) and
there are any amount of mods available.

 

T

T i m

Guest

• Sep 27, 2004

• #25

On 27 Sep 2004 16:28:24 GMT, Simon Barr <[email protected]> wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, T i m wrote:
>>>
>>>http://www.glass-uk.org/
>>
>> Hmm, looks interesting .. I wonder if I could do that with the Rickman
>> Ranger (M&S tryes),(as long as I bring my own tow rope) ;-)
>>
>
>Not sure what a Ranger is so I did a google.
>
>Hmm.. kit car based on the mk2 escort.

That's the badger ... looks very much like an early Suzi jeep. We (the
Wife and I) built it in the back garden over 3 months of evenings /
weekends. It's about 10" shorter wheelbase than the MKII 1300 Escort
saloon it (mostly) came from. To get the gearing right due to the
bigger wheels / tyres, I fitted a 4.44:1 diff from a 1.1 Escort van. I
shortened (cut / welded) the prop myself (just to get it through it's
first MOT and was still on there 10 years later.

The odd time I have done any mild 'off roading' (or snow) it seems to
get on very well (considering it's a 2 wd) and MUCH better than any of
our std road cars in the same circumstances ;-)

You would be able to do some lanes
>around Herts as a few are little more than dirt tracks. Others are maybe
>a bit too much for it though.

Ok, when I've fitted the new front coil springs (one has broken) and
poly bushes I might check some out ..

As for tyres, you dont necessarily need mud
>ones to be able to go laning. The Niva never had more than AT's and the
>110 has got M&S tyres on. Saying that I am planning to get some muds as
>the extra grip would be nice.

Watching the 4x4's struggling in the 'bog' I came to the conclusion
that even fairly 'gnarly' tyres become pretty smooth when filled with
gloop!
>
>>>I think most areas have a monthly meet. In Herts we normally head out laning
>>>the following Sunday.
>>
>> Hmm, which Sunday would that be and where would we 'head out from' if
>> we lived in Herts perchance ..? ;-)
>>
>
>The monthly meet is at the Long and Short in Lemsford nr WGC, second Wed
>of every month.

Ok ..

The following Sundays trip is normally planned that night
>along with the meeting place.

Secret stuff eh .. ;-)

Quite often we meet at the 24hr Tescos next
>to the A1 in Hatfield, but the place varies.

Do participants have to drive to a phone box to get the next
instructions ,, ;-)

We don't always drive Herts
>either but try to vary a bit. The furthest we've made it is to the north
>Norfolk coast having driven the Peddars Way!

Woah .. that sounds like fun .. I'll have to have to have a Google
on that ..

All the best ..

T i m

 

T

T i m

Guest

• Sep 27, 2004

• #26

On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 19:45:22 +0100, Austin Shackles
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On or around Mon, 27 Sep 2004 08:23:02 GMT, T i m <[email protected]>
>enlightened us thusly:
>
>>Talking to one of the guys at the event yesterday he suggested that he
>>was looking for a 90 or 110 but there were all out of his budget. He
>>ended up with a Disco at about half what he would have paid for the
>>alternative? But, I'm not sure if I want a Disco ... ?
>
>I wasn't sure either, but I have to admit that I'm slowly falling in love
>with it...

;-)
>
>straight out of the box, the 90 is probably the most capable off-road,
>thanks to the short wheelbase and short overhangs.

And I like their sorta 'square' looks .. ;-)
>
>mind, for cheap-to-buy fun, I don't reckon you can beat a middle-aged Range
>Rover, something around early-mid-80s, which are seriously cheap at the
>moment, especially a V8.

Is the insurance ok on them (48, no claims in 15 years, clean licence
for 25 years) ?

If you don't intend to do much mileage, then the
>fuel consumption is less of a problem, and they're loads of fun and make a
>lovely noise.

Oh that they do .. I had a Ford V6 in a Bedford CF camper van and I
made a twin 'straight through' exhaust for it. A nice 'burble' on
tickover and normal running and something a bit louder when you
floored it ;-)

if you get a 3.9, they're a bit more pricey to buy but
>faster... the only thing to watch for is corrosion problems, and for that,
>you just need a RR expert to take with you when viewing prospects.

Ok on that .. I thought I read things like the tailgates rot away etc
... probably not a problem on a 'bob' ;-)

Other
>than that, the parts are mostly pretty cheap, the off-road performance is
>pretty much identical to the disco (hardly surprising, same chassis)

Is it? That was one of my questions .. "what (if anything) does the
Disco share it's running gear with"? So is it 'exactly' the same as
the RR (for the important bits anyway?)

and
>there are any amount of mods available.

Hmmm ... bolt on bits ... we like them .. (as long as they are
worthwhile ..) Start off with a stock Series III and end up with a
tricked up special (and 10 grand lighter!)

All the best ..

T i m

 

N

Nikki Cluley

Guest

• Sep 27, 2004

• #27

in article [email protected], T i m at
[email protected] wrote on 27/9/04 5:28 pm:

> On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 16:36:35 +0100, Nikki Cluley
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>> We started off with just a Discovery(4 kids and 3 of them in carseats don't
>> fit in the back of a Volvo estate)...now we've got four...and Bruce who
>> swore that he'd never mend cars...does that as well.
>
> Hmm .. ;-)
>>
>> According to the Land Rover Owner Mag, the Discovery I is the second best
>> off-roader...and I love my Discovery.
>
> So what was No1 (out of interest ..?) Nikki ?
>
> All the best ..
>
> T i m
>
Defender of course.
--
Nikki

1990 Discovery V8i
1985 Range Rover V8
1975 88" Series III 2.25 petrol
1979 Series III Lightweight 2.25 petrol

 

S

Simon Isaacs

Guest

• Sep 27, 2004

• #28

"T i m" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 10:18:28 +0100, "Paul - xxx"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >T i m vaguely muttered something like ...
> >
> >> So, looks like 'we' need some form of 4X4 then ... ;-)
> >
> >Oh, you sad, sad man ...
>
> Me sad .. ok so I do like Kylie, 7 of 9,

I nearly got banned from watching voyager on account of 7 of 9, I also have
a soft spot for Jadzea Dax...

--
Simon Isaacs

Peterborough 4x4 Club Vice Chairman, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster (how
much more....)
3.5V8 100" Hybrid, now LPG converted
Part owner of 1976 S3 LWT, Fully restored, ready for sale! Make me an
offer!
Suzuki SJ410 (Fiancée's) 3" lift kit fitted, body shell now restored and
mounted on chassis, waiting on a windscreen and MOT
Series 3 88" Rolling chassis...what to do next
1993 200 TDi Discovery (the Pug 106 is dead, long live the Pug)

Peterborough 4x4 Club http://www.peterborough4x4.co.uk

 

T

T i m

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #29

On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 22:40:22 +0100, Nikki Cluley
<[email protected]> wrote:

>>>
>>> According to the Land Rover Owner Mag, the Discovery I is the second best
>>> off-roader...and I love my Discovery.
>>
>> So what was No1 (out of interest ..?) Nikki ?
>>
>> All the best ..
>>
>> T i m
>>
>Defender of course.

Ah .. <I'm new to all this don't forget ..> ;-)

It seems to me the real 'best' might be a tractor .. after all it's
what they normally bring in to pull the 4x4's out when they are stuck?
;-)

All the best ..

T i m

 

S

Simon Barr

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #30

In article <[email protected]>, T i m wrote:

>
> Secret stuff eh .. ;-)
>

I think it happens that way as you can never be sure who is going to turn up.

Most of the time it's a bunch of regulars but we do get the odd newbie popping
in. A lot of the lanes around here are quite tight, which means you *will*
pick up lots of scratches. That sort of thing can put people off so a route
which is better suited to them may be planned.



--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #31

On or around Mon, 27 Sep 2004 19:38:03 GMT, T i m <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>
>Is it? That was one of my questions .. "what (if anything) does the
>Disco share it's running gear with"? So is it 'exactly' the same as
>the RR (for the important bits anyway?)
>

There's a hell of a lot that's the same. I've never really studied it in
super-detail, but basically, chassis, running gear (air suspension ones
excluded, not that they're in the cheap fun bracket yet), brakes I think and
side doors are all the same. Lift the bonnet on a disco and it looks just
like a RR underneath.

I reckon if I wanted a fun motor to play offroad etc., I'd be tempted to a
Rangie. I drive a disco 'cos I can (now) get 7 passengers in it.

 

S

Simon Barr

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #32

In article <[email protected]>, Austin Shackles wrote:
>
> I reckon if I wanted a fun motor to play offroad etc., I'd be tempted to a
> Rangie. I drive a disco 'cos I can (now) get 7 passengers in it.
>

You got the 110 seats to fit OK then?

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #33

On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 07:33:07 GMT, T i m <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 22:40:22 +0100, Nikki Cluley
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Defender of course.
>
>Ah .. <I'm new to all this don't forget ..> ;-)
>
>It seems to me the real 'best' might be a tractor .. after all it's
>what they normally bring in to pull the 4x4's out when they are stuck?

I gather that Unimogs are pretty capable in the right hands, too.

D90 on "big" tyres (235/85R16 now) is pretty much the ultimate, I reckon.
The 90 used to be fitted with smaller tyres as standard (205R16) [the SWB
series, as well, standard tyres used to be 6.00x16, 7.50x16 for LWBs] and as
a result lacked diff clearance, you could always go up to the bigger tyres,
and they're fitting the bigger ones from new now anyway.

The only thing that the Rangie loses out on (and the disco, for that matter,
is the approach and especially departure angles. Ramp breakover can be
improved by a suspension lift, but the long rear overhang on the disco and
rangie is a problem. 'course, you can always "bob" a rangie...

 

S

Simon Isaacs

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #34

"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On or around Tue, 28 Sep 2004 07:33:07 GMT, T i m <[email protected]>
> enlightened us thusly:
>
> >On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 22:40:22 +0100, Nikki Cluley
> ><[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >>Defender of course.
> >
> >Ah .. <I'm new to all this don't forget ..> ;-)
> >
> >It seems to me the real 'best' might be a tractor .. after all it's
> >what they normally bring in to pull the 4x4's out when they are stuck?
>
> I gather that Unimogs are pretty capable in the right hands, too.
>
> D90 on "big" tyres (235/85R16 now) is pretty much the ultimate, I reckon.
> The 90 used to be fitted with smaller tyres as standard (205R16) [the SWB
> series, as well, standard tyres used to be 6.00x16, 7.50x16 for LWBs] and
as
> a result lacked diff clearance, you could always go up to the bigger
tyres,
> and they're fitting the bigger ones from new now anyway.
>
> The only thing that the Rangie loses out on (and the disco, for that
matter,
> is the approach and especially departure angles. Ramp breakover can be
> improved by a suspension lift, but the long rear overhang on the disco and
> rangie is a problem. 'course, you can always "bob" a rangie...
>

and a disco, friend has just bought a bobbed disco. Bit more work with a
disco mind, due to the alpine roof lights...

--
Simon Isaacs

Peterborough 4x4 Club Vice Chairman, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster (how
much more....)
3.5V8 100" Hybrid, now LPG converted
Part owner of 1976 S3 LWT, Fully restored, ready for sale! Make me an
offer!
Suzuki SJ410 (Fiancée's) 3" lift kit fitted, body shell now restored and
mounted on chassis, waiting on a windscreen and MOT
Series 3 88" Rolling chassis...what to do next
1993 200 TDi Discovery (the Pug 106 is dead, long live the Pug)

Peterborough 4x4 Club http://www.peterborough4x4.co.uk

 

D

David G. Bell

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #35

On Tuesday, in article
<[email protected]>
[email protected] "T i m" wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 22:40:22 +0100, Nikki Cluley
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >>>
> >>> According to the Land Rover Owner Mag, the Discovery I is the second best
> >>> off-roader...and I love my Discovery.
> >>
> >> So what was No1 (out of interest ..?) Nikki ?
> >>
> >> All the best ..
> >>
> >> T i m
> >>
> >Defender of course.
>
> Ah .. <I'm new to all this don't forget ..> ;-)
>
> It seems to me the real 'best' might be a tractor .. after all it's
> what they normally bring in to pull the 4x4's out when they are stuck?
> ;-)

Mostly no suspension, but there seem to be more magazines about
collecting tractors than about farming...




--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

"History shows that the Singularity started when Sir Tim Berners-Lee
was bitten by a radioactive spider."

 

N

Nikki Cluley

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #36

in article [email protected], T i m at
[email protected] wrote on 28/9/04 8:33 am:

> On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 22:40:22 +0100, Nikki Cluley
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>>>
>>>> According to the Land Rover Owner Mag, the Discovery I is the second best
>>>> off-roader...and I love my Discovery.
>>>
>>> So what was No1 (out of interest ..?) Nikki ?
>>>
>>> All the best ..
>>>
>>> T i m
>>>
>> Defender of course.
>
> Ah .. <I'm new to all this don't forget ..> ;-)
>
> It seems to me the real 'best' might be a tractor .. after all it's
> what they normally bring in to pull the 4x4's out when they are stuck?
> ;-)
>
> All the best ..
>
> T i m
>

Don't be silly...what do you want a tractor for? Not as much fun as in a
Land Rover. Think of all the fun you'll have shopping for all your off road
accessories like a high lift jack or diff guard.....even better a winch.


--
Nikki

1990 Discovery V8i
1985 Range Rover V8
1975 88" Series III 2.25 petrol
1979 Series III Lightweight 2.25 petrol

 

N

Neil Brownlee

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #37

Dax....

/me remembers the Tribbles episode of DS9....

<dribble>

--
Neil

 

T

T i m

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #38

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 10:37:49 +0100 (BST), [email protected]
("David G. Bell") wrote:


>>
>> It seems to me the real 'best' might be a tractor .. after all it's
>> what they normally bring in to pull the 4x4's out when they are stuck?
>> ;-)
>
>Mostly no suspension,

Like a leaf sprung 'series' from what I've seen as they were going
over the bumps!


but there seem to be more magazines about
>collecting tractors than about farming...

No money in farming (they say) so why keep the tractor .. ;-(

All the best ..

T i m

 

T

T i m

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #39

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 14:22:47 +0100, Nikki Cluley
<[email protected]> wrote:

>> On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 22:40:22 +0100, Nikki Cluley
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> It seems to me the real 'best' might be a tractor .. after all it's
>> what they normally bring in to pull the 4x4's out when they are stuck?
>> ;-)

>> T i m
>>
>
>Don't be silly..

I can't help it ;-(

..what do you want a tractor for?

Pulling 4x4's out of the mud .. ;-)

Not as much fun as in a
>Land Rover.

Possibly not .. ;-)

Think of all the fun you'll have shopping for all your off road
>accessories like a high lift jack or diff guard....

Ah, now you are talking .. !

..even better a winch.

I'll make do with my Tirfor 'Jockey' for the moment .. I need the
exercise .. <sigh>

All the best ..

T i m

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Sep 28, 2004

• #40

On or around 28 Sep 2004 09:15:43 GMT, Simon Barr <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>In article <[email protected]>, Austin Shackles wrote:
>>
>> I reckon if I wanted a fun motor to play offroad etc., I'd be tempted to a
>> Rangie. I drive a disco 'cos I can (now) get 7 passengers in it.
>>
>
>You got the 110 seats to fit OK then?

aye, there was a thread about it, I think. I'll put up a small webpage
about it when ICBA.