Greg,
All due respect here. You have done some interesting mods to your rig to say the least. However, I think the following statement is lacking:
"But on the harder ones (especially the obstacle that I think caused my damage) there's no way it would have been done in a 2" lifted Disco w/ 32" tires."
I don't know which obstacle you were on Greg, but I would be willing to wager that a properly driven D1 or D2 with 2"-3" lift, 32"-33" tires, sliders, lockers, and at least a trimmed front bumper could follow your rig up anything. As you just found out, more lift and bigger tires can sometimes help, but usually just causes more issues both on and off the trail.
I repeat again that I have done and seen Rovers with the aforementioned setup do anything in Moab that Rovers can do. Did you look at Burkes 90 & RR? Nothing too special yet I can promise you he can send both of those rigs up the nastiest stuff there that a street legal rig should be on. It comes down to how well the driver knows the vehicle.
IMO - modifying a Rover past a certain point usually results in diminishing returns. Once you reach that point you are gonna have to cut off all the fenders, remove the doors, get some tubular work done, and replace the chassis and suspension with truggy gear. Go for the motor and transmission as well. Eventually, it is not a Rover anymore and you would be better off starting with a fresh cage and driveline rather than hacking up the Rover in the first place.
I have been talking with some of the truggy crowd lately and they are an interesting bunch. A lot of them really respect Rovers, but they also know that a street legal stock rig (which yours still is) can only do so much.
Next time you are out this way make sure to look me up. I go to Moab about four or five times a year, and I know enough to know that I still have lots to learn. One of the things I have learned is that you will not amaze anyone by following truggy tracks. There are plenty of ways to challenge yourself without going home with a heartbreak
All due respect here. You have done some interesting mods to your rig to say the least. However, I think the following statement is lacking:
"But on the harder ones (especially the obstacle that I think caused my damage) there's no way it would have been done in a 2" lifted Disco w/ 32" tires."
I don't know which obstacle you were on Greg, but I would be willing to wager that a properly driven D1 or D2 with 2"-3" lift, 32"-33" tires, sliders, lockers, and at least a trimmed front bumper could follow your rig up anything. As you just found out, more lift and bigger tires can sometimes help, but usually just causes more issues both on and off the trail.
I repeat again that I have done and seen Rovers with the aforementioned setup do anything in Moab that Rovers can do. Did you look at Burkes 90 & RR? Nothing too special yet I can promise you he can send both of those rigs up the nastiest stuff there that a street legal rig should be on. It comes down to how well the driver knows the vehicle.
IMO - modifying a Rover past a certain point usually results in diminishing returns. Once you reach that point you are gonna have to cut off all the fenders, remove the doors, get some tubular work done, and replace the chassis and suspension with truggy gear. Go for the motor and transmission as well. Eventually, it is not a Rover anymore and you would be better off starting with a fresh cage and driveline rather than hacking up the Rover in the first place.
I have been talking with some of the truggy crowd lately and they are an interesting bunch. A lot of them really respect Rovers, but they also know that a street legal stock rig (which yours still is) can only do so much.
Next time you are out this way make sure to look me up. I go to Moab about four or five times a year, and I know enough to know that I still have lots to learn. One of the things I have learned is that you will not amaze anyone by following truggy tracks. There are plenty of ways to challenge yourself without going home with a heartbreak
