| Author | Message | ||
     Chris Browne (Chris_browne) New Member Username: Chris_browne Post Number: 18 Registered: 02-2003 |
Maybe its the cold I'm feeling or the fact that I'd gotten frustrated somewhere else but I;m disappointed by the 2003 d2. I was really surprised how frequently the Traction control clicked on. Are the standard 18 inch tires really so poor? 2: Seat The electric seat makes it alot higher. So the steering wheel seems so much lower than on my d1 3: Wierd one this, but I think the B pillar molding is alot larger...my shoulder kept touching it.... A few other things too but those are in comparison to an MDX....not a d1 but it does at least have an engine that can actually move the beastie thats a real  | ||
| Ron Brown (Ron) Member Username: Ron Post Number: 138 Registered: 04-2001 |
1. YES! 2. There is some adjustment 3. All DIIs are like this, DIs are thin. | ||
| BW (Bwallace35) New Member Username: Bwallace35 Post Number: 33 Registered: 07-2002 |
Chris, My 01' D2's ETC used to kick in all the time until I kicked the stock tires to the curb. I put on the mud terrains from BFG. That cut down the activation of the ETC by half. My experience. | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 285 Registered: 02-2002 |
Drop the 18s and get some real rubber on your 2003, then write about your experience. Until then, enjoy the ETC. Despite your tires, it will help you out in some off-road situations. | ||
| Alen Babayan (Alen) New Member Username: Alen Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2002 |
I wheeled last weekend with Ross Thoma in his 2003 d2 and he was very capable even with the etc. Check out the Badlands pics. Cheers Alen | ||
| Chu Y. Son (Cyson) New Member Username: Cyson Post Number: 17 Registered: 01-2003 |
Bone stock d2s will kick off ETC very easily. Just think about how easy it is to get 1 wheel out of 4 to lose traction. That mixed in with poor suspension travel (unless you have ACE), and you're clicking away! | ||
| Ross Thoma (Rossthoma) Member Username: Rossthoma Post Number: 166 Registered: 08-2002 |
Thanks Alen That was a fun day. I was skeptical of how good it would be in that mud with the stock Michilens but once I got used to the system a bit it worked quite well. I thought that the last hill we hit comming out of the creek was going to get me but I was suprised at how good it hooked up. I don't know how the older D2's ETC kicks in but as soon as the wheel starts to slip, it is on it and works real good. I think that is why the system kicks on so frequently on the 2003. I am undecided about the CDL as a must have, yes if you blow a shaft you can get out in 2WD with CDL but I believe that unless you bounce on or simalairly fuck up a shaft I can't see how ETC would twist one up on its own since there is nothing perminantly locked toether. And since the system kickes in with such tight tallerences that it gets the slipping wheel under control before it looses it. So chris take some time to get to know the ETC and yes get good boots for the rig. The seat is a bit high and I myself rub my legs getting in, elen with the steering wheel raised. Ross | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 286 Registered: 02-2002 |
Ross- CDL is a necessity in the D2. I always took it for granted that the front and rear driveshafts were always locked together in "part-time" 4WD trucks and was dismayed that the 2001 I purchased didn't have any provisions for a locking center diff, but I witnessed a situation last weekend at Truckhaven that solidified my opinion that CDL is absolutely necessary. The situation was this: D2 attempts hill climb up a loose sandy hill with poor traction. D2 gets stuck, and attempts to back down. Front brakes lock up while rear wheels continue to move. The truck continues to move backwards with the front wheels locked, and coming dangerously close to having the front end of the vehicle slide out from the front, which would have put the D2 in a rollover situation in a heartbeat. D2 ends up getting winched up the hill safely. The reason for this? No CDL. With CDL, the front brakes would not only slow the front wheels but the rear wheels as well, reducing front wheel locking and the dangerous sliding situation I described above. Like I said, I always took CDL for granted, and I have had absolutely no regrets about spending the money on CDL on my D2. It's a safety issue. It might not be as sexy as a bumper or a lift, but it's an absolute essential if you're going to be wheeling your 2003 D2. | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Senior Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 1326 Registered: 02-2002 |
Good Point Craig. I learned a lot about the Pig on the trip to the mountains in Feb. CDL helped me get over a bunch of stuff that ETC just pulsed way. I would like to add that I have 4.6 envy :0 | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 723 Registered: 08-2002 |
Supposedly the '03 models have a new program for the braking system so when you're in reverse the proportioning is changed to prevent front-wheel lockup when backing down a hill. | ||
| Alen Babayan (Alen) New Member Username: Alen Post Number: 26 Registered: 11-2002 |
I had the same discussion with Ross while we wheeled Indianas famous mud/clay pits, CDL rules for difficult trails with rocks/snow/ice on my rig, but for what its worth i have Ross driving in Reverse still shots of 25-30 degree sand dune with stock tires,lol. | ||
| Mark & Bev Preston (Markp) Member Username: Markp Post Number: 159 Registered: 02-2002 |
Hello Land Rover - How about a DII without ETC and all the electronic garbage, but with CDL and 4.6? I bet several of us might consider a DII. Honestly, the current package doesn't cut it. Even the '03 Range Rover had to be winched out of the mud in Australia during it's intro. Mark | ||
| Jason Gustavson (Prescottj) Senior Member Username: Prescottj Post Number: 474 Registered: 12-2002 |
mark or bev, you sound kinda suprised the rr had to be winched out. | ||
| Mark & Bev Preston (Markp) Member Username: Markp Post Number: 161 Registered: 02-2002 |
Jason - No, not at all. I've seen side-by-side comparisons of Open, ETC and Lockers. Lockers wins hands down. ETC was a little better than Open, but not much. What Land Rover needs is a rear locker. ETC, while fine for many conditions, is not up to Land Rover, go anywhere, standards. - Mark | ||
| Christopher Dynak (Adtoolco) Member Username: Adtoolco Post Number: 114 Registered: 08-2002 |
Well at the very least a CDL. The bastards!!!! | ||
| Greg Tearne (Gooddoggomez) New Member Username: Gooddoggomez Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2003 |
Spare a thought for those of us who have bought DII built after 06/02, that doesn't even have the CDL linkage in the LT230 transfer case (unaware of this fact, of course). It can be machined, but at great cost (esp. in Aussie $$$$) or replaced (also plenty $$$$). Its ETC or rear lockers or nothing... |
