| Author | Message | ||
     michael a. kerr (Ethanrover98) New Member Username: Ethanrover98 Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hello to all, I am new to this site, but am excited to interact with you guys...... this is the most professional and helpful site that I have found. Here's by question. I have $1000 to spend on my stock 98 disco. What should I do first. My wife, 14 month old son and dogs like to go offroading on the weekends and through the week the the Rover is driven apprx. 100 miles daily to work etc. Any thoughts would be appreciated. | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 869 Registered: 09-2002 |
Maybe a good set of AT tires. It's amazing how much a good set of tires can have on performance. | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 404 Registered: 05-2003 |
If you are smart, counseling. Seriously, get it up off the ground is the first thing. Lift, suspension, wheels(?) and tires. Listen to who the experience of others with a 98, they'll know what will work best for daily driver that likes to take family "detours" off road. You should be able to find a great compromise for your needs , just air the tires up for on road, and down for off road. Good Luck, Jamie | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 870 Registered: 09-2002 |
Michael, I have a 98 too that goes off-road every now and then and is also a DD. The first thing I actually did was get some recovery equipment like a rear receiver shackle assembly and front JATE rings. I then put a good set of AT tires on hence my original suggestion as they do make quite a difference. The next thing I did was cut the front air dam off to give my self a bit more front clearance and a better approach angle. I then put diff guards (front and rear) and a skid plate on and most recently I bought a set of fog lights (PIAA's) that I'll be mounting this weekend. I think for $1000 you may be able to do the recovery equipment and tires. If you plan on wheeling fairly frequently then doing the lift and suspension might be prudent but by the sounds of it, your truck's going to be mostly a DD with the occassional off-road trip with the family then I wouldn't suggest modifying too much yet because you probably won't benefit from the more specific off-road mods. In Jamie's case, she did the warp speed modification route (probably set a Dweb record for fastest mods  ) and needed the lift because of some of the heavy equipment (winch, HD bumper) that she put on her truck. That's just the route I took as it suite my needs the best. | ||
| Jaime (Blueboy) Senior Member Username: Blueboy Post Number: 806 Registered: 02-2002 |
a quick search on this site will yield you many answers to this question and should give you some ideas. recovery items to help others help you get unstuck and protection items such as diff guards are also good first steps. | ||
| Jack Edwards (Olered) Senior Member Username: Olered Post Number: 461 Registered: 04-2002 |
Protection first, then recovery, then goodies. | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 770 Registered: 02-2002 |
Save the money, go to an easy trail and be amazed at what your stock Rover can do. Learn as you go along and upgrade as you see fit. Your stock Disco will handle a good deal of things that a SENSIBLE first time off-roader can throw at it. Try a dealer event or a local LR club. When you're ready to upgrade, everyone's suggestions above are good. For now, I'd say save the $1000 for gas money for your 100 mile a day commute... Glenn | ||
| mike hyde (Mike_hyde) New Member Username: Mike_hyde Post Number: 2 Registered: 07-2003 |
Save the 1000 bucks you will need it later. I just took a new job and drive 100 miles a day to work and my rover has more problems than it did when I only drove only 25 miles a day. It seems to be harder on the car that it did when I took it off road. I fill up 3 times a week, so try to keep the speeding down, it seems to help on the gas mileage. Mike | ||
| Joe M. (Little_joe) Member Username: Little_joe Post Number: 235 Registered: 11-2002 |
Save it or sink it into maintenance. Nothing else matters if your truck breaks down - do complete, thorough maintenance to assure trouble-free commuting and wheeling. joe | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 872 Registered: 09-2002 |
Wow...just noticed you said you drive 100 miles a day. Yea, I agree then. Save your money and just drive it stock until you know what you need then modify as required. | ||
| Chris Browne (Chris_browne) Senior Member Username: Chris_browne Post Number: 426 Registered: 02-2003 |
I ran stock 100% stock for over 40k before I got my hands on anything, except for front end receiver $200, shackles $25, a strap $40 and a copy of Tom Shepards how to go offroad book. Read also Chapter 7 of the owners manual If the tires need doing then yes replace with something like Dunlop RT/BFG AT but for now follow my example and aways go with a buddy, West CT rover and Bay State Rover are the two New England Clubs to look at and will provide plenty of buddy opportunity. And yes I never removed the spoiler or had it removed by a rock. | ||
| Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 183 Registered: 08-2003 |
yup. Glenn right. With little kid, dogs and wife aboard - you wont go on any seriously hard trails (unless you dont care for them of course.. but i doubt it). So protection isnt what you might need first.. high-lift + some straps are first to get - you can stuck even on easy trail sometime. jerry can for extra petrol. suspension upgrade/lift tires internal mods (stuff to make riding more pleasurable and carrying gear better) CO2 tank - if you got little kid its NOT FUN to sit next to compressor for hour.. I know it first hand CB or FRS radio - A MUST. HP/mileage mods (air intake, exhaust, plugs, wires) then you can go for all sorts of hardcore stuff, if you like: gears, lockers, driveshaft improvements, body protection, steering damper relocation, winch.. | ||
| Jason Wagner (Wagnerjc) Member Username: Wagnerjc Post Number: 63 Registered: 03-2002 |
100 miles a Day!!!! That's about $300/month in gas if you do nearly all highway. How about taking what you'll spend on gas plus the grand and buying a litle commuter? The money you save will pay for the little car, and you can save your Disco for off-roading and family trips. | ||
| Kai Dussling (Kai) Member Username: Kai Post Number: 93 Registered: 06-2002 |
Recovery straps: $100 Tow shackle and a couple of d-rings: $100 High-lift and assort. bits & chain(for winching): $200 Diff guards: $100 M/T tires: $500 Read/Learn everything on the Bill Burke website about recovery/preparedness/safety: PRICELESS I feel recovery equipment is more important than protection for a beginner. Anyone new to the sport always looks for mudholes. Protection is neccesiated on the harder/rocky trails. A newby isn't even going to know where or how to find these trails | ||
| Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 157 Registered: 05-2003 |
First off, recovery points and gear. Your Disco has one stock recovery point that is pretty much worthless if you get well stuck. I have a '97, and the stock recovery point sheared at the 2 lower mounting points after a hard tug. Luckily the top bolt held, and it did not turn into a projectile. So get a pair of JATE rings installed in the front frame members. For a rear recovery point, There are 2 loops already in place that are solid and work well, but are a bit inconvenient because of their location. I got a big D shackle at a tractor supply place and attached it with a big bolt through the trailer hitch receiver. Then get a couple of recovery straps (I have a 2"x 20' and a 3" x 30') and a couple of 3/4" (pin diameter) D shackles. Since you are putting so many miles on your truck, you'd probably want a dedicated set of offroad tires. I drive 120 miles a day, so I use my stock Michelin XPCs daily, and put my BFG Mud Terrains on for wheeling. You can get steel wheels for about $80-$90 apiece, or an alternative is to call junkyards for alloys. I got a set of 1990 range rover alloys for $200, and know others who have done better. Since changing all your tires can be a big pain, get a nice 3 1/2 ton jack from Sears. They got a deal going where you also get a pair of heavy duty jackstands. Then, if you got about $75 left, get yourself a front diff guard fron Dee Cantrell. And always go wheeling with a buddy. | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1192 Registered: 02-2003 |
buy a warranty rd | ||
| Trevor (Daredvl) Member Username: Daredvl Post Number: 102 Registered: 03-2003 |
Save it for your therapist. | ||
| Micky_dee (Micky_dee) New Member Username: Micky_dee Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2003 |
get at least a front skid plate to protect the vulnerable steering rod. ive broken two and seen three break on the trail. you never know what lurks in the tall grass. and they break easy. but i really like the response about the warrenty. that will help. at least carry a hand come along for selfrecovery. tug strapes and lengths of chain are good. good leather gloves. flash light ... buy what you can afford or think will work, but i can tell you that being stuck with out the right gear sucks. | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 122 Registered: 08-2003 |
A set of good offroad tires, diff guards, and recovery gear is a must for everyone. You'll be kicking yourself in the butt when you tear up your street tires, punch a hole in your diff, or get stuck without recovery gear. Mostly everyone so far is saying tires, protection, and recovery gear/points are the most important. With all of these, you can make offroading what it's suppose to be- FUN! Good luck, Matt | ||
| Greg Hirst (Gregh) Senior Member Username: Gregh Post Number: 358 Registered: 10-2002 |
Rob D's idea isn't bad- Since you're driving 100 miles/day, I'd put that $1k towards purchase of good used econobox or a good used, comfortable, street motorcycle (of course, I'm in Southern California ) and save the gas $ and wear and tear on the LR. Use it strictly for fun and family. My 2 cents | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Senior Member Username: Newman Post Number: 395 Registered: 04-2003 |
Use $500 on modifications per above (recovery, tires), and put the rest down as a retainer on a divorce lawyer for when you go crazy like the rest of us and neglect everyone else in pursuit of the perfect Disco Andy | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 410 Registered: 05-2003 |
Andy, that's just TOO FUNNY!! | ||
| luis cardon (Luisc8) New Member Username: Luisc8 Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2003 |
snorkel...saves on gas because you taking in colder air, looks cool and save the rest for maintance. | ||
| Clif Ashley (Cta586) Senior Member Username: Cta586 Post Number: 376 Registered: 04-2002 |
Wow... if someone told me that the first thing I should do to my Disco was a snorkel, God knows where I would be today. My $.02 - with 100 miles a day, and mild offroading, you need street tires. Possibly mild A/Ts. Do some research. Save the money, and spend awhile learning from this site and other sources (www.bb4wa.com) When you have spent a lot more on your truck years in the future, its a lot more fun to look at it and know you did it right the first time. | ||
| Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 184 Registered: 08-2003 |
Luis, are you aware that cold air actually doesnt do as much good, as it cracked up to? There has to be about 15F difference to gain/loose 1HP. So in MI , in winter - yep, you will get some extra, but thats exception.. Plus snorkel kills already bad aerodynamics of truck, so drag is probably about to set you back even.. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 819 Registered: 08-2002 |
Don't replace tires until they are toast or you lose o-ne or two. If they are the michelin that cost and arm and a leg don't waste your money if you blow them. The ones on my stock disco were like 235 a piece. I replaced one when it blew and then said forget it and went with BFG, sounds like you could use AT when you need them. Get OME HD springs and Shocks, you really can't go wrong. Go with others that are more well prepared until you have protection and equipment. | ||
| Lewis Jones (Cutter) Member Username: Cutter Post Number: 99 Registered: 10-2003 |
buy a cheap little commuter ride. Leave the Disco at home for the wife and kid, and spend quality time with the family wheelin and exploring in the Rover. Great memories for the kid, the miles don't add up as fast for the Rover (and helps keep the re-sale up if you want to move up to a newer one in the future) but back to your Q, I vote tyres, BFG AT's, when your wear out. And join a local wheelin club, you can get by without recovery gear as those you wheel with will have some and you will learn a lot. And remember the family comes first. (maybe buy the wife something sweet with the money now and when money comes later, buy Rover upgrades. This is a MUCH more fun sport when she is involved, too!) | ||
| michael a. kerr (Ethanrover98) New Member Username: Ethanrover98 Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2003 |
To all, Thank you very much for the suggestions and advice. You folks have convinced me that for the amount and severity of offroading that I do my money would be best spent on some recovery gear a factory manual (never take my vehicles to a shop) and some routine maintenance items to ensure the longentivity of my truck............. and oh, ya by the way............. something nice for my wife!!! (Fortunately she loves the truck as much as I do so I don't think that I will need to retain a divorce lawyer any time soon.....) Thanks again.... Note: If there is anybody on this board from CT. please contact me about some offroading. I would love to learn more of the fundamentals of Rovering........ | ||
| Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Senior Member Username: Rubisco98 Post Number: 1074 Registered: 04-2002 |
I drive on average 4500 or so miles per month in my '96 Disco..and usually at least once a month for some serious off road driving, though I drive "off-road" every day almost for work.. I say first things first get some armour for the Disco, then lift and tires, etc... |
