Vehicle & Technical > Discovery

Is this worth the effort and expense

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lyndon:
So having decided that this is something I want to do, how much will I be looking to pay to modify the vehicle in the ways I suggested I want to ?

Range Rover Blues:
Depends what you want to do.

The best advice, and we all give it (or something similar) is get along to your pub meet and go greenlaning with the guys & girls of Mud CLub.

Ask the stupid questions, we all had to ask them once you know :wink:

Why have you got one of those then?

What does that do?

Would that fit MY car?

get the idea? don't just go into a 4x4 shop with your wallet open and decide you don't want your car to look like anyone elses.

Bide your time and wait for second hand bargains

Only buy a winch when you've really regretted not having one (mine hasn't been used in anger yet even though I took my own advice on it).

Read through the forums, you'll get some ideas, see the pitfalls and the bills.  Mostly, make use of the club 'cos that's what we're about.

Once you've made your mind up on a mod then come in here and ask, we'll all gladly give you the advice we wish we'd had, often it's contradictory but that goes to prove there is more than one answer to a problem.

Our typical list of suggested first time mods goes something like this (and it's really time it went in the articles section)

Recovery points
Recovery rope, not a Halfords' tow rope but proper gear
Wellies and shovel
All terrain tyres or mud terrains, depends on choice
Diff guards
CB

You may wish to add
steering guard
sill guards AKA rock sliders
Fuel tank guard/removable tow bar
suspension lilft, sometimes goes before bigger mud tyres
snorkel
many many extra lights, just watch the regs on them

and so the list goes on.

By far the biggest expense will be a full on suspension lift, now I don't list all my mods in my signature but have a look at my profile, I recon it's cost about £850 to do a fully sorted 2" lift, plus tyres, but my car handles well and can embarass a badly driven hot-hatch.

I'm sure others will have things to add, that's what is great about Mud Club.

Finally when you start to buy stuff for your car there are one or two usefull contacts within Mud Club, I'll get you started, ask for a guy who sells yellow strops :wink:

Tyke:
Can't fault the advice there from RRB. Many of the things we fit are not essentials and number one on any list really should be recovery gear and a decent set of tyres. Then get out and use it till you either get stuck or break something.

If you want bigger tyres then you must think about fitting a lift and in most cases be prepared to start cutting chunks out of the bodywork to get the necessary clearances. Also consider if you are you going to hang other bits on the chassis like heavy duty bumpers, winches, underbody protection etc. It all adds to the weight and the spring rating has to selected to suit. Think I'm on my third set of springs now to compensate for the mods I've done. My avatar is quite old now and the truck is considerably different to when that was taken  :twisted:

Once you get the bigger tyres in then you may find that the gearing is too tall and you need to swap the Transfer box or diff ring and pinions. Consider the size of tyres you may want to fit then go for the lift to suit. Go over 2" and you may need to consider a lot more other expense. Prop uj's will fail, the steering could wander, the whole plot could become unstable. I feel any lift should always be countered with a wider track by fitting wheel spacers, larger offsets on wheels etc.

My own truck has evolved on an as needs basis. Like I said earlier, get out and use it and you will soon find what is really needed. If you break something, find out why and take measures to reduce the chance of it happening again.



Most of all, have fun with motor . . . . that's what it's all about   :wink:

lyndon:
Cheers gents wise words in deed. I think I am going to sit on it and wait. See how I fair around the local lakes etc this winter. Might even be worth looking for a vehicle already modified if I decide to go down that route.

Littledan:
i say go for it mate u wont regret it one bit!!

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