p38 vs disco1....my results

p m

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,651
869
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
P38 can easily out-wheel a D1 when exterior dimensions are unimportant. But to make a P38 into a reliable trail truck is very involved, given with its most quirks are electrical and average Joe's electrical skills are not that great.

What I am saying is... Unless you're a die-hard Land Rover fan and a P38 is your only ride, you can pour money and time into it and build it into a great trail truck. Otherwise, it doesn't matter that a P38 will do loose hillclimbs 10x better than a Disco - Disco will be more reliable in the long run.
 
T

thedude

Well-known member
Sep 10, 2007
465
0
you can pour money and time into it and build it into a great trail truck. Otherwise, it doesn't matter that a P38 will do loose hillclimbs 10x better than a Disco - Disco will be more reliable in the long run.[/quote]



x2
 
tanabnd

tanabnd

Active member
May 4, 2005
30
0
Wellington, CO
p m said:
Otherwise, it doesn't matter that a P38 will do loose hillclimbs 10x better than a Disco - Disco will be more reliable in the long run.
Click to expand...

Yeah, as a owner of a 2k P38 and 3 D1s, I can say that the TC on the RR is nice. However, I would rather not have a TC system that "kicks in" when I need it. I would rather wheel something that I can manually send power to both axles (albeit only one wheel per axle, with the least amt of traction).
Case in point, I am wheeling the P38 in southern WY this winter and got into some major snow drifts. I have ATS tires on the P38, but I knew I could push through the bumper height drift with some momentum. Wrong. I hit the drift and felt the TC kick in, and there I was with all 4 wheels spinning at the highest EAS setting... stuck. Had to get a land owner to strap me out. Result? 2 Blown front EAS bags, car is not drivable. Yes, I should go with coils, but why? So I can get closer to what the D1 is?
The following weekend, I took the stock 99 D1 out in the same drift, now a bit muddier. Locked the center diff, and bucked left/right and plowed right through with Continental SUV tires. Was the difference that I was able to put power to both axles before I entered the drift? Maybe. then again, maybe I like the way the Disco handles off road and was more comfortable managing the drift and mud like someone above mentioned.
Either way, this is the same TC system that people have on their D2s which make them install a CDL, so there must be some advantage to having a CDL over TC, even though it is an awesome system.
I love the P38, it feels like it was carved from stone when driving it. However, in the type of wheeling I do, I prefer the D1.
 
Last edited:
garrett

garrett

Well-known member
Jun 18, 2004
10,931
5
53
Middleburg, VA
www.blackdogmobility.com
tightgroup said:
Very hard to compare a P38 to a D1, very very different machinery Its old skool vs new techno gadgets.

Both are very capable but you need to drive them differently offroad. However in stock format the P38 has an advantage with TC,,
Click to expand...

So what you are saying is that TC makes the P38 more capable off road? Am I getting this right?
 
T

thedude

Well-known member
Sep 10, 2007
465
0
skippy3k said:
Some of you guys are going to make us P38 owners look like we don't know what we are talking about if you keep going about how TC is superior....
Click to expand...


what's TC?..............kidding before you guys flip out
 
T

thedude

Well-known member
Sep 10, 2007
465
0
peter, know anything about that winch mount?! i like a lot. i thought you had to have the factory brushguard in order to install a winch mount? thanks for posting that though.
 
p m

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,651
869
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
I don't know exactly how his is made; if I were to guess, he cut the front bumper in half, made a winch basket, and butt-welded the bumper halves to it.
It isn't a gnarly bumper by any means, but it doesn't stick out. One great feature of a P38 is a consistent approach angle - despite being driven all over the rough stuff, this Rangie still has its under-bumper fog lights.
 
T

thedude

Well-known member
Sep 10, 2007
465
0
still, very clean and functional w/o having to spend $1k on an alan bates winch bumper
 
skippy3k

skippy3k

Well-known member
Aug 15, 2005
1,483
0
Northern California
p m said:
this Rangie still has its under-bumper fog lights.
Click to expand...

It looks like he trimmed the bumper in the "pimple" picture. It also looks like he is sporting an Alan Bates rear bumper. Alan makes great stuff...I have a set of his sliders and a front diff guard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom