series off roader?

[LandRoverHyter]

How do the series trucks hold up trail wise compaired to the RRC or Disco? Im looking for a truck for off-roading and really like the looks of the series trucks but im afraid that my off road capabilities with a series would be less than that of a RRC or Disco. Anythoughts? Any old series trucks ya wanna sell me? Im looking at a.....
" It has a 4 cyl. 2.25l petrol engine that runs very strong. The transmission shifts well with no unusual noises or clunks. There is no overdrive. The heater, such that it is, works. It won't win any races, but it will cruise at 50-55mph. It has about 66,000 miles, I assume that this is correct. The frame is in good shape. It has been waxoyled at some time and the rear crossmember has been replaced. I don?t see a problem with driving it anywhere. I drove it about 70 miles at highway speed the other day and it did very well. It?s had a tune-up but all of the fluids need changed" Hard top series 3

 

[Leslie]

A Series is just a different critter.....

A Series is relying on gearing more like a tractor, instead of having a bigger motor. More power would be nice for running down the road at a swifter clip, true, or if towing, etc., but if you're going along at a slow pace, do you really need a lot more power? True, a V8 can spin all the wheels in a mudhole, but, is that how you want to do it?

Series have leaf springs, instead of the better articulation of coil springs. If you don't have lockers, you want to keep all four wheels on the ground. So, yes, there are advantages to coils, too.

Take a Series III, put it on coils, get more power out of the engine, then, there you go, you have a Defender... A Defender is an improved Series.

I'd have to agree, more power can be a good thing. Power steering can be a good thing. Being safer in an accident would be a good thing.

But, a Series can hold its own off-road. The coilers have advantages, but, coilers are more complex. Series are simplistic, they are great platforms for learning basic mechanic skills on. Less to tear up. You have to pick up a bit different set of skills... you're not going to find an automatic in a Series unless someone has done a hybrid. You're going to have to learn to fix things (most of the Series in this country are much older than the older Range Rovers in this country.... not all, but most, by far....)

A Series Rover is glad to be used off-road. The more pertinent question is, is a Series what you want?

-L

 

[LR Max]

In all honesty, a newer coiler can usually outwheel a series vehicle. The newer junk is just better, and the automatic transmission makes rock work extremely simple.

That being said a 88" can be modified to work well on the trails. Mainly in the suspension department since stock springs do not allow for much flex. Axles are weak so adding a diff locker is tricky. If you get some newer axles and throw under there, then you have a lot more to work with and disc brakes as well. Having the upgraded suspension is a much and lockers help out tremendously.

Tires...well...in my opinion if its going to be an off road vehicle, go ahead and get super swampers and consider big tires. 34~35 size. If you get the 32s, after about a year you'll be wanting the bigger tires so just go ahead and get them.

The main advantage of a series vehicle, expecially the 88", is its size. The truck is narrow, so you can go down ATV trails with little trouble. The size allows you to put the truck in places other vehicles can't go. You're tires will hit rocks at different places, etc.

The wee 2.25 is underpowered, but if you do a few performance modifications, it'll put out all the power you'll ever need.

It sounds like the rest of you're vehicle is in good working order which is the main fault with most series rovers. They are busted and then they get out on the trail and fully die.

 

[LandRoverHyter]

Im dream truck is a D90...I dont have the 20k+ to spend on one so a series is looking good to me right now at age 20 and in college. All im looking for is a good dependable rover for off roading. I want something that i wont have to spend a pile of money on everyother month. Others i have talked to say that the series are cheaper to maintain and repair. The guy selling this truck says the 66,000 miles are correct. 3k for it doesnt seem to bad...

 

[jsonova99]

Im dream truck is a D90...I dont have the 20k+ to spend on one so a series is looking good to me right now at age 20 and in college. All im looking for is a good dependable rover for off roading. I want something that i wont have to spend a pile of money on everyother month. Others i have talked to say that the series are cheaper to maintain and repair. The guy selling this truck says the 66,000 miles are correct. 3k for it doesnt seem to bad...

Make sure the rust situation isn't too bad, frame and bulkhead mostly. For that price it will have rust I'm sure, just a matter of how bad.

I had a D90, great truck, got rid of it Still not sure what I was thinking.

 

[LandRoverHyter]

Rust is said and looks not to be too bad...whats ur email and i will try to send you a pic or two...im not sure how to post them on here

 

[jsonova99]

joe_nova_99@yahoo.com

 

[LandRoverHyter]

There ya go...Now dont you get any ideas...I found it first....LoL.

 

[jsonova99]

It doesn't look too bad, it's definitley got some rust in it, but it doesn't look like anything too far gone. It'll definitely need a little bit of work, but that's half the fun of getting things like this, right? $3000 isn't too bad for that based on what I see in your pictures and based on what I've seen others selling for more (that didn't even run) Just make sure that you're comfortable with it. Remember they are cheaper to maintain and fix, but they will still require repairs from time to time which equals more money.

 

[EricSiepmann]

In all honesty, a newer coiler can usually outwheel a series vehicle. The newer junk is just better, and the automatic transmission makes rock work extremely simple.

That being said a 88" can be modified to work well on the trails. Mainly in the suspension department since stock springs do not allow for much flex. Axles are weak so adding a diff locker is tricky. If you get some newer axles and throw under there, then you have a lot more to work with and disc brakes as well. Having the upgraded suspension is a much and lockers help out tremendously.

Tires...well...in my opinion if its going to be an off road vehicle, go ahead and get super swampers and consider big tires. 34~35 size. If you get the 32s, after about a year you'll be wanting the bigger tires so just go ahead and get them.

The main advantage of a series vehicle, expecially the 88", is its size. The truck is narrow, so you can go down ATV trails with little trouble. The size allows you to put the truck in places other vehicles can't go. You're tires will hit rocks at different places, etc.

The wee 2.25 is underpowered, but if you do a few performance modifications, it'll put out all the power you'll ever need.

It sounds like the rest of you're vehicle is in good working order which is the main fault with most series rovers. They are busted and then they get out on the trail and fully die.

The axles can be modified to accept the newer 24 spline defender shafts and any locker that goes in them. Check out Great Basin Rovers dot com. You'll still need to protect the front of your diff as it's as weak as my D-90's. New axles are a bit of work but feasible. But you need to take into account that discs will need the later dual circuit system to operate. Which means you may have to modify the bulkhead as well. As with anything, one mod leads to others and before you know it you have dumped enough money into a 40 year old truck and could have bought a Defender to begin with.

Large tires and series trucks don't generally mix very well. The steering components on the series won't be able to handle the extra weight. Add manual steering that was designed around 650s and your not going to be happy with the result. Get used to changing ball joints and order stouter linkage. Also, you'll need to do a spring over to fit the tires. Check out BCBoffroad.com for ideas. And get used to changing your front shafts and u-joints frequently. Add new drive shafts as well. Don't forget new shocks.

32's were a factory option and would require little work to run them and retain series look and feel. I have been running 32's for some time and play around with lifting to 33's on my D-90. Trouble is it's more trouble than it's worth IMO. I am going to order lockers before even considering a lift. Bigger is not always better. It's the driver and experience.

You can modify a Series engine but it's prudent to do so after a fresh rebuild, new exhaust, new ancilliaries, et al. Look at ACRcomp.com or turner for improvements.

Basically, you're buying a 40 yr old truck. You'll need a lot of money to get it running properly before you can even think of modifications. If you like the look and want to wheel the old school, cool. You can make it something else, but why? You want coils, disc brakes, modern engine and driving get a range rover.

EwS

 

[antichrist]

I bought my frist series in 1975, bought my first coiler in about 2000. I did a lot of off-roading in my various Series rovers. Coilers, IMO, have a bit of an edge, but for the most part a series is extremely capable off-road, just requires a more attention to detail, and is less forgiving of not doing it "right". It takes more finesse.

 

[LRNationals]

the only thing that i hated about the series was, the breaking axle routine! you will break the axles! for sure.

 

[jsonova99]

How well do they hold up if you just leave them stock? I'm personally looking for more of a cruiser than an off-roader. My Disco does the hard stuff.

 

[Dan Ratcliffe]

but for the most part a series is extremely capable off-road, just requires a more attention to detail, and is less forgiving of not doing it "right". It takes more finesse.

Absolutely! To drive one of these fairly well, you really have to put some effort in to it. I have never smacked a tree, dinged a panel, or broke something that was not driver error. Well, the was that half-shaft......

 

[EricSiepmann]

How well do they hold up if you just leave them stock? I'm personally looking for more of a cruiser than an off-roader. My Disco does the hard stuff.

Well, every Series truck I have wheeled with that had a lead foot and no finesse snapped stock axles. The only one that didn't had GBR axles in them. I spoke with the owner and he has been running them for several years.

You can also upgrade to 24 spline defender axles from GBR for light wheeling and cruising and forget about them as well. Check the Axles and Gearing on the ECR site as they go into more detail.

EwS

 

[Dan Ratcliffe]

I have broke two half shafts, one was pulling away from a stop sign on the way to work. according to the guys at RoversNorth about 80% of them break that way. And once on the trail. I haven't had one break in about four years now.

 

[LRNationals]

puppie it. pull the shafts to check to see if they have started to spin. i filled three five gallon buckets with broken shafts over the years. consider a sals third member. once in low range be gentle with the clutch!

 

[antichrist]

I have broke two half shafts, one was pulling away from a stop sign on the way to work. according to the guys at RoversNorth about 80% of them break that way. And once on the trail. I haven't had one break in about four years now.

I'd have to agree. I only broke one, and that at a stop light, in spite of all the off-roading, much of it working off-roading with heavy loads, I did in my series.

 

[Ron]

A series is a difficult vehicle to live with, but in the woods, I will take a series over a disco any day.

The only ones that don't run well offroad are either rock crawling or running with old springs that are rusted stuck.

 

[leafsprung]

Age old Debate

Stock for stock, the series trucks will come out on top just about every time. They lend themselves to rough treatment better than the newer trucks. Simpler, lighter, easier to fit larger tires, better aproach and departure angles. Sell the disco.