| Author | Message | ||
     Adam Elliott (Miatman) New Member Username: Miatman Post Number: 3 Registered: 01-2004 |
I just bought a 96 se7...it is all stock. I havent had the opportunity to take it off road yet and was wondering exactly how capable it is stock. Are there any discos in the the photo gallery that show off stock ability? Also, what would any of you suggest as the first things I should look to upgrade on the car? THANKS!! | ||
| Kevin Hans (Kmhans) New Member Username: Kmhans Post Number: 14 Registered: 01-2004 |
Adam, you should check out the thread on "sway bars". That might be of interest to you. | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Senior Member Username: Newman Post Number: 552 Registered: 04-2003 |
Short answer: Your 96 D1 is, "out of the box," more capable than any other stock 4x4 on the road (exception: Wrangler Rubicon but that's apples to oranges). Wheel the hell out of that thing, see what gets you stuck, and modify to overcome. Have fun! Andy | ||
| Lionel (Fromage) Member Username: Fromage Post Number: 77 Registered: 02-2003 |
When I got my 95 last year, I got on difficult trails along with modified D90s (and experienced drivers). I got stuck a couple times but most of the time it was very impressive to see what a stock vehicle (with bald tires) could do on the really steep colorado trails. I ended up putting new OME springs on with 235/85. A fairly inexpensive upgrade for an incredible difference... Good luck Lionel | ||
| Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 230 Registered: 05-2003 |
Adam, Its really cool to wheel stock for a while. It improves your skills because you don't have any mods to lean on. First thing you should get is a good recovery point for the front like a JATE ring. The stock recovery point is worthless and dangerous...I say this from experience. Also get a solid recovery point for the rear. could be a metal bar with shackle that sticks in your trailer hitch receiver, or a big shackle from a trailer supply place that will fit in the receiver. The most cost effective, bang for the buck mod you can do to your truck that will increase its offroad performance is a set of Mud Terrain tires. | ||
| Butch Santiago (Butchs) New Member Username: Butchs Post Number: 7 Registered: 01-2004 |
My 95 Disco is modified: wheel (265-70-16s) and springs(ome hd front and rear) but stock meaning no lockers or TC. You can wheel around with a partner (best insurance to get unstuck)and if you get stuck, let your wheel partner winch or pull you out. Adding lockers mean upgrading axles, r&pinion and drive shaft especially when wheelin thru boulders. Maybe worse. This is why i remain stock-it's more challenging. | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Senior Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 288 Registered: 11-2002 |
Adam, I wheeled a stock 95 disco before I got my 109 on the road. If you take all of the plastic off and the running boards then it is quite a formatable machine. The biggest thing is the tires. My 109 could get through a lot of places the disco couldn't simply because the 109 had a mud tire tread pattern. Other than that a stock disco can hang with the crowd. It takes skill but it has been done. As said before, look into some front recovery points. Personally, I think the Terrain Master recovery/jack points are better since the recovery point is right there in front of you. But JATE rings will work as well. This summer I am probably going to be getting that same disco back. Its a 95 and needs new springs. I haven't decided what I am going to do but I think I'll probably end up with stock springs again (but no stock leaning! or OME, or something). I want to keep it stock because it challenges you as a driver and not you in a rig. Enjoy the new ride. Max T. | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 560 Registered: 02-2002 |
well, adam, it's up to you make it perform. the disco will do what you ask it to do. so it's up to you to go out and find out what it can do and what it can't do. all this "best4x4xfar" thing is false sense of security. you'll get stuck badly believing in all the hype. enjoy the disco. Ho Chung | ||
| Ed Bigus (Plenty_of_sand) New Member Username: Plenty_of_sand Post Number: 2 Registered: 02-2004 |
My father used to say "The bigger and better the 4-wheel drive, the further out you can get stuck." I've repeated with those words in my head every time I go out. Keeps me safe. Take the stocker and go! You'll be amazed at what she can do. Then, if you get bored, change a few things and go further (but bring a friend). | ||
| Dean DeSantis (Dean) Member Username: Dean Post Number: 82 Registered: 12-2002 |
I am in a stock 99D1 as well.....have had loads of fun since I trimmed the front plastic bumper off. I went to MAR this year and went on about half the trails....I think you need to know your trucks limitations. I am still thinking about a OME lift, but when I hear all the mechanical isuue guys have after modifiying their rigs....it scares me. Am I feel like I am the only disco owner with 90k worry free miles??? My disco runs to good (knock on wood)...no issues(major) what so ever....maybe I dont beat on it hard enough?? Thats my 2 cents!!! Dean | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 810 Registered: 02-2002 |
Ho, you mean it's NOT the best4x4xfar?   | ||
| Brett A. Naquin (Bnaquin) Member Username: Bnaquin Post Number: 50 Registered: 09-2003 |
My '95 is stock for the most part and I plan on leaving it that way for awhile. To date all I've added is an OME medium duty suspension. I'll probably add some larger tires and maybe a trutrac at some point in the future but I'm not is a hurry to do that. I find the near stock performance of the Discovery to be excellent. Of course if I want something that's totally hard core and will go absolutely anywhere, with excellent reliability.....I'll drive my '95 Toyota Land Cruiser with its stock front, center and rear lockers. No hate mail please. | ||
| SSV (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 689 Registered: 06-2002 |
My 95 is completely stock except for a trimmed front bumper. I have had TONS of fun in it and I think a few people could speak to my capabilities at MAR this year. A LOT depends on driver skill though...and it always helps to have experienced wheelers around to make suggestions. I've learned a lot in just a year or two...I was a capable driver before my Disco, but now I'm even better. I would love to make some mods, but for now, I'm just learning how to be a good driver in what I have. However, after replacing a starter that was gunked with mud...I think some underbody protection would be the best change for any stock truck!!  Good luck and have fun! PS the Camel Trophy discos were pretty much stock except for fantastic tires and heavy duty suspension.....no lifts, etc. I was so impressed to learn that.... | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 1044 Registered: 09-2002 |
Yea leave it like it is and learn on it. I've left mine stock except for tires, protection and cutting the front sill off and so far I haven't seen a need to do the big mods yet. You'll be able to do a lot of stuff stock (and maybe more than you require) and when you start to make modifications, you have a benchmark to see what the difference is. Like Susannah and a few others have said, getting some protection like diff guards and sliders would be a good idea though. | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 226 Registered: 11-2002 |
Had a stock '97 Disco in Australia and we took it all over - steep rocky trails to sand dunes. Never needed any modifications. Need recovery gear as with any off-road - hi lift jack and snatch strap and block will cover 99% of it. You also need to know your vehicle. For instance, learn about the axle articulation and how you can use the hand brake in locked 4x4 to aid engine compression going down steep descents (I used a lot). The best training I got was if you get stuck, break out the hi-lift, jack up front of vehicle, put rocks & stuff under front wheels, drive out. The other is to bury the spare tire with the snatch strap attached to act as an anchor to winch against (using the hi-lift) if no trees. Big fat tires actually work against you in a lot of circumstances - why LR put skinny tires on the RRC for instance. If you change tire size go to a taller, but still skinny tire (see www.rangerovers.net). Put money into extra tires (and tyre plyers), recovery gear, extended range fuel tanks, roof rack, waterproof seat covers, gps, extra parts. If you have money left over, changing to stronger bumpers helps the jacking. | ||
| Larry Solomayer (Solo) New Member Username: Solo Post Number: 31 Registered: 11-2002 |
Adam Go to the trails/events section and look for the pictures of Wurtsboro NY. There are some great pictures of some stock trucks (and some not so stock trucks) going through some tough terrain. Larry | ||
| Nathan Hindman (Nathanh) Member Username: Nathanh Post Number: 126 Registered: 07-2002 |
Adam, The best thing I can suggest is to go out and enjoy driving your truck on the trails as is. Out of the box, a stock truck is almost always more capable than the driver. Learn to drive it properly and build your skills up, then decide later what mods you want to do or need to do for your truck. The biggest mistake that I see people doing is buying the truck and throwing a bunch of gear onto it before they even learn how to drive it. If you do that you'll never get a chance to really polish your driving skills. I've seen great drivers take trucks up obstacles and trails that are absolutely mind boggling, while I've seen crappy drivers that can hardly get their highly modified trucks over a curb. Descending from the soapbox, Nathan Hindman http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com | ||
| Adam Elliott (Miatman) New Member Username: Miatman Post Number: 10 Registered: 01-2004 |
Thanks for the tips guys! -adam |
