Help with LR3 decision

[ccollins]

Need help deciding on a LR3 purchase. I currently have a RRC(trail rig), 06 LR3(family car) and a jeep jk ( new 4 door ). I'm currently considering replacing the jeep with a used LR3. I wheel the jeep every chance I get, and I'm very impressed with it offroad. However the V6 they put in these things is a joke. I'm running 33" tires with 4:10 gears and it will barely get out of its own way. I live in the mountains so it seems its a struggle for this thing to climb any hills. I recently went to a Land Rover dealership outing. The guy that owns the dealership purchased 37 acres, and turned some of it into an offroad park to promote his Land Rover sales. It was nothing hardcore but I got try out my wifes LR3 on some steep hill climbs and then on the obstacal coarse. I was very impressed with the level of control and ease the LR3 handled everything, even with those horrible stock HP tires. So, How well does the LR3 handle real trails? The Jeep is almost miserable to drive on road in comparison to the wifes Rover. I'm just wondering if the LR3 would be as good as a moderate trail rig as it is a daily driver? Any good offroad pics? Sorry for the long rant, I've been considering this for some time now and can't seem to man up and make a decision.

 

[jwest]

from what you've had to play with and what you've seen around, you should know that the lr3 is very limited in the modification department, forget 33" tires first, then forget all tires smaller than 18" which means none of the fun mud tires that you can put on your rrc or a jeep.

you might consider a better jeep .... or an fj or of course, a late model discovery II. or seeing as you have the whole dd lr3 covered and the rrc, why not something fun like a D90 if not the fj or DII.

 

[ccollins]

Thanks for the reply. I see your point about the limitations of the LR3. I guess I keep hoping for more offroad upgrades other then sliders and bumpers. As for getting a better jeep, I've owned several, and this is as good as it gets in my opinion. The old straight 4.0 had more grunt, but the jeep its attached to is not nearly as capable stock for stock( in my humble opinion). As for the FJ, its a great trail rig. I'm just not a fan of toyota, I think its because there so reliable in comparison. You know its not going to leave you stranded! Good advice on the D2. A buddy of mine has one and its very capable. As for the Defender, I would love to get one. But at 25-30k for something thats at least 11 years old with no warrenty? I keep hoping for the price to drop on those, but its not going to happen. I know there's 1983 defenders being brought in now, maybe thats something to think about in the future. Thanks again for your advice.

 

[jwest]

the D2's are good value. even if you go safe and get a cpo with an extended warranty on an 04, you're still only paying $20k tops and easily as low as $18k with less than 50k miles and a 6/75 warranty with the cool sunroofs and nice driveability. my mom is still getting upper teens mpg but then she drives like my mom of course.

for outright camping/trail, i do prefer the lr3 for it's size and overall cruise comfort but they cost so much and don't get any better mpg.

the 04 D2's are just plain cool though - it's that simple.

 

[nwoods]

I have LOTS of LR3 photos on the trail on my website.
For narratives, tips, info, etc... go here: http://blog.nextstepdesigns.com/
For the photos, just go here: http://nwoods.smugmug.com/Land Rover

JWest is correct about the smaller tires (31.5" max), and limited upgrade ability, but he did leave out one very important element: The Traction Control and long travel air suspension are phenomenal, and invalidate the trail rating systems. Many Many times I will take a trail rated a 7 or 8, and just walk through it, much to the amazement of Jeep guys.

However, it does have a weakness, and that is ground clearance. If the layout of the trail is anything larger than sleeping bag sized boulders, it will be VERY difficult in the LR3 with a LOT of rock stacking.

For 90% of the trails out there, the LR3 is amazing, but for that last 10%, it just can't do it. Not until someone gets radical and drops the diff's, lengthens the driveshafts, swaps out the CV's, reconfigures the rear frame, and puts a proper 4" or 6" lift on these baby's.

I just a remembered a thread posted a while back on Disco3.co.uk where people posted their off road photos of the LR3. Here it is:
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic14345.html?highlight=road+photos

One of my favorite photos:
http://nwoods.smugmug.com/photos/211888716_kHQsQ-XL.jpg

 

[ccollins]

Those are some great pics. Thanks for posting the link. How do you like those sliders? I know ARB has a front winch bumper and Rovertym has been working on one for the LR3, any other companys out there that provide more selection or possibly more underbody protection? The location of the exhuast is down right scary. The one thing I really like on these is the solid feeling you get driving it, there just a great daily driver. Also you can pick them up used in the mid 20K range. Just seems like a lot of truck for the money. How is the dealer support if you wheel them?

 

[nwoods]

Kaymar makes a steel rear bumper with swing out tires and jerry can holder. JWest on this forum has it mounted .

Rovertyme is really not very interested in making LR3 products for the foreseeable future. They only made one as a favor to someone and thus far refuse to make any others. So don't hold your breathe on that one.

Rasta makes really good front & mid section skid plates, and some cheesy "sill protectors"


ASIFR makes a decent looking rear skid plate to cover the diff and exhaust piping, but I've not seen one in person...and their website seems to be offline?

The Rover Specialties rock sliders are extremely well designed and exceptionally stout products. I was part of the development and testing process for those, so I am very partial, but you will not find a stronger, more protective design anywhere in the world.

Front Runner (not distributed to the USA) makes a nice rack, and so does Hannibal, which you can get through Atlantic British.

BFG AT's just barely fit. Cooper Zeon LTZ's are the best deal going for price/performance, and Nitto's are excellent also. More on tires here

 

[nwoods]

Dealer support has been touch and go. There are five dealers in my general area. One of them is outstanding, and has been the recipient of all my business lately. There are lots of independent shops in my area also, and they are very good and considerably cheaper for non-warranty items, and they all have the Testbook software now, so that helps a lot.

2005-2006 LR3's have some known issues. They are all minor and have been fixes available. Read up on the TSB's on Disco3.co.uk, and make sure you get the extended warranty to deal with them, and you should have a very sound truck that wheels extraordinarily well, and is comfortable to drive.

 

[ccollins]

Thanks for the response and pics. How important is the HD package with the rear locker? Does it automatically engage in low range?
Thanks for your help.

 

[OFFROVER]

Chad just sell the jeep and buy J west's truck. It was for sell on here a while back I thought?

~Corey

 

[ccollins]

Corey, I just checked out J West's truck. I think its still for sale. It's a great looking rig, and probably a good value for the money. But 52k is a bit more then I was looking to spend. That 06 at the dealership for 26k is a little more in my price range. Anyways, Are you going up Caney Fork on the 12th?

 

[OFFROVER]

Yeah really nice set up truck didn't realize he wanted so much for it. I hope to be there but I've got to get a radiator so I don't over heat again.

~Corey

 

[gordonwh]

re tyres:

The 265/70/17 sizes fit fine (if you have 17" rims, which limits you to the V6). That's 32" in the old money, and remembering that you don't have hanging diffs, will give you plenty of clearance on mud trails etc (at least 255mm). Not quite such an advantage on rock climbs, but you have an extended profile suspension setting that will help with that. For a stock vehicle, your ground clearance will be better than most.

Approach/departure angles are pretty good stock too. The only real disadvantage is the long(er) wheelbase.

Cheers,

Gordon

 

[ccollins]

Gordon,

Thanks for the reply. Are you able to hang with the modified discos and classics on most trails? I climbed under my wifes LR3 tonight to take a look at whats exposed, I was suprised at the lack of clearence even in the offroad suspension height. Some guys have changed the height sensors or rods to get added clearence on there d3s. I wonder how much this helps.

 

[jwest]

Yeah really nice set up truck didn't realize he wanted so much for it. I hope to be there but I've got to get a radiator so I don't over heat again.

~Corey

If interested, the price would be closer to mid $40's - without a detail job though

 

[nwoods]

Thanks for the response and pics. How important is the HD package with the rear locker? Does it automatically engage in low range?
Thanks for your help.

It is a variably engaged locker, and you have no control over it. You do have to be in low range for it to be online, but it may or may not be engaged, it depends on what the truck thinks you need.

I have driven LR3's with it, and without. There's never been anything a truck without it couldn't do that an HD could, but the HD trucks were easier in some cases. That's about the only difference you's feel. It's best on loose surfaces where one wheel may have bite and the other never will due to the ground conditions.

However, the traction control is so good, that a non-HD truck will still make it up just fine.

If I had a choice and were buying one today, I'd definately get the HD, but if you can't find one (they can be hard to find), and your circumstances need you move sooner rather than later, going without will not impact or impede your off road use in any significant way. However, don't go without, thinking you'll get an ARB locker or something down the road. That seems VERY unlikely at this point. Just not enough demand for it.

 

[jwest]

Gordon,

Thanks for the reply. Are you able to hang with the modified discos and classics on most trails? I climbed under my wifes LR3 tonight to take a look at whats exposed, I was suprised at the lack of clearence even in the offroad suspension height. Some guys have changed the height sensors or rods to get added clearence on there d3s. I wonder how much this helps.

On the trail it helps to the tune of 2"+ more clearance in addition to the ~1.25" gained over stock simply by using 265/65x18 tires.

 

[gordonwh]

Gordon,

Thanks for the reply. Are you able to hang with the modified discos and classics on most trails? I climbed under my wifes LR3 tonight to take a look at whats exposed, I was suprised at the lack of clearence even in the offroad suspension height. Some guys have changed the height sensors or rods to get added clearence on there d3s. I wonder how much this helps.

I regularly go out with modified LRs, generally 2 ~ 3" lifts and at least rear lockers. I don't have any issues keeping up with them (it's often the other way around). But then I drive hard (and have the dents to prove it!), have very aggressive tyres, and the tracks around here are mainly either mud/hill climbs or sand/dune climbs. Very little rock climbing.

I also run training days for standard 4x4 vehicles - in that instance the D3/LR3 is generally streets ahead.

I'm suprised at comments like "lack of ground clearance" - compared to what? A 3" lifted/locked 4x4?? You _should_ be comparing standard to standard vehicles, as it is a given that modifications to the D3/LR3 are limited. I compete in my D3 in Standard and Touring (lightly modified) classes, which is challenging and great fun, but if you want to run in Trophy (modified) or Challenge (highly modified) type events/trails, the D3 wouldn't (and shouldn't) be the first choice.

Dan C said in an earlier thread "it is what it is", and I think there's some truth in that. What "it is", is a great package straight out of the showroom. What "it isn't", is a highly modifiable platform. If that meets your needs, it will keep you happy. The converse is also true.

Cheers,

Gordon

 

[sideview]

I'm just wondering if the LR3 would be as good as a moderate trail rig as it is a daily driver?

Definately! I love it both on the roads and on the trails.

My dealer at LR Roanoke encourages 'using them for what they're made for'. Dealer in Clearwater was cool about it too. Dealer in Richmond, seemed so, so...I don't go there any more.

http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/11873/normal_GA Trip 374.jpg

 

[ccollins]

Thanks for all the sound advice, I needed to hear from some people who are not afraid to wheel there d3s. We have had ours for about 14 months and I'm always impressed with how well it drives. (when I get to drive it ) I think I need to kidnap my wifes rover for a long weekend, try it out on some local trails. She really loves that thing, funny thing about that is I had to beg her to consider the LR3. Now she is hooked.