Subtopic	Posts		Updated
	FOUR WHEELER MAGAZINE & LAND ROVER	2		04/07 03:16pm

By Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr. (Jpg2esq) on Friday, April 06, 2001 - 08:59 am: Edit

I have a 95 Disco completely stock. I want to begin riding various trails here in South Florida, mainly Big Cypress National Park. Big Cypress from what I gather is mostly dirt trails, mostly flat, few rocks (no hills in south Florida) with some water.

Can I take the Disco out without any modifications? Any other advice is appreciated.

By mrbieler on Friday, April 06, 2001 - 10:29 am: Edit

Aside from basic recovery gear, fire extinguisher, and a 1st aid kit for any vehicle, the only thing I would say you "must have" for a Disco is a front recovery point.

You can use the tow hitch in the rear. For the front, you can get a JATE ring as the welded ring that the truck comes with is only good for straight pulls. To use a JATE ring, you need to remove the front air dam and can cut down the side pieces. This also gives you a lot better front approach angle. If you're concerned about the keeping the trucks looks, you can find used side pieces for sale for $20~$30 and cut them down. That way, you can always bolt the original parts back on later to preserve the stock look. All depends on what you want to do.

Things like tires, springs, shocks, etc. are all really great and can to the trucks capabilities, but you can have a lot of fun in a stock vehicle.

Jeff

By Bill B on Friday, April 06, 2001 - 04:11 pm: Edit

Run stock for as long as you can - no sense in replacing parts until you really know what YOU need in your region for your style driving. Sure, everyone loves throwing $$ at their trucks (me included), but it will do amazing things and go alot of places just as is. In mud, you will quickly realize that the stock XPC's have their limitations, but play for awhile before replacing stuff. Just do your best to familiarize yourself with the truck, where the low points are, which side the diffs are on, etc and then watch the trails for conditions that may hang you up or damage on of the aformentioned points. Also, hopefully you have people to off-road with - not only for the camaraderie (sp?), but for spotting and maybe some experience. As to equipment, the previous post is correct - a full set of recovery gear, first aid kit, fire extinguisher are all key. You can go for a long time with the stock drivers side recovery point - it will take alot, including sidepulls for quite some time. Just go have fun and experiment!

By Slider on Friday, April 06, 2001 - 04:29 pm: Edit

Has anyone ever needed a fire extinguisher???

By Troy on Friday, April 06, 2001 - 05:50 pm: Edit

Yes - at the Uwharrie Safari last year. I was spotting a guy up a steep section of trail when some underbrush (I think) that had gotten caught around his cats ignited. He didn't have an extinguisher on board. My truck was at the bottom of the hill and the other spotter's truck with an extinguisher was at the top. I started hurling wads of mud at the flames while the other spotter ran to his truck for the extinguisher. Fortunately, a few lucky mud throws doused the flames. The guy's truck (and him) came away unhurt (if not a little unnerved).
Troy

By Frode Hübertz Haaland (Discofrode) on Sunday, April 08, 2001 - 09:55 pm: Edit

Jorge!
You don't need to remove front spoiler if you approach problem of front recovery point with an attitude of spending a slight bit more $$$...
You really need 2 things: You need front recovery point, and you will soon opt for somewhere to hi-lift your Disco. David Bowyer Offroad Center has "Jackmates" which gives you both. Others also manufacture similar items, for instance Terrainmaster (these will turn into mounting brackets for steering guard). Both these can easily be accomodated to the front spoiler.
Hi-lift jacking point is nice to have, 'cos hi-lift is not only poor mans alternative to winch, it is also an important recovery tool in an of itself.
Roverly Yours, Frode
home.halden.net/discovery