Setting the D4 Up for a Trip

[mowog]

I have a bit of a project on the go for the D4 in getting it ready for a 6 week trip next year.

Item 1. The 18" wheels those are on the way. Tires are yet to be decided. I am thinking a more road biased tyre rather a set of mud diggers. I am open to suggestions on these.

Item 2. Long Ranger Fuel and Kaymar Bar. Still waiting on quotes

Item 3. A maybe.... Roof racks but a question first. Is the GPS antenna on the rear roof of the D4?

Item 4. A winch. This is also a maybe. I see Land Rover have a genuine winch I am a little to scared to even ask what LR Australia would want for a winch kit fitted. Are there any other winch options that are not going to require fitting a full bull bar? Will other winch's fit where the genuine winch mounts?

[CSBrisie]

I think LRA will want close to $5000 plus labour for the Winch and winch assembly.

If you go direct to a UK dealer (phone / website) and get one that way it will set you back around 1525pounds for a Warn 9500 plus the winch cradle etc; VAT wont apply as you are importing; but add GST our end (10%) and duty (5%) here.

So, at say Xchange rate of 0.575 it will set you back say $A2652 plus $132.63 duty plus $265 GST; freight add say $A700 landed.

Cheaper - but still alot!!

Simon Archer at 4x4intelligence in Melbourne (see website) has "the hidden winch mount" $800 approx I recall. A good option. Most 9000lb winches will fit it I believe.

[jonesy63]

Or maybe just buy the hidden winch tray kit from UK, and buy the Warn 9.5XP winch locally - to save freight costs.

[CSBrisie]

Good point jonesy! ;)

[mowog]

Thanks guys I sent an email.

[Duck's Guts]

I think LRA will want close to $5000 plus labour for the Winch and winch assembly.

Back in May I was quoted $7044 for supply only from a Sydney L/R dealers spare part dept!

[Duck's Guts]

Or maybe just buy the hidden winch tray kit from UK, and buy the Warn 9.5XP winch locally - to save freight costs.

ARB price is a tad under $2300 supply only for a Warn 9.5XP.

[Duck's Guts]

Item 2. Long Ranger Fuel and Kaymar Bar. Still waiting on quotes

Item 3. A maybe.... Roof racks but a question first. Is the GPS antenna on the rear roof of the D4?

In May I was quoted $3600 for the Kaymar bar supply & fit.

Not sure were the GPS antenna is, but I've got a full alloy rack (Blackwidow) extending from the tailgate to the B-pillar & it hasn't affected the nav system operation.

[CSBrisie]

I thought the GPS antenna was at the front - windscreen??

[chuck]

If I remember correctly MLR had the D3 nudge bar with winch mount on special.
I recall something like $1600.00 fitted - though don't hold me to this.

Of course this does not include the winch.

Be interesting to see if the fit the D4.

Regards

Chuck

[Celtoid]

I thought the GPS antenna was at the front - windscreen??

I've never checked out a GPS antenna on a car before but have seen many on Aircraft. The black box shaped thingy on the roof near the tail light looks awfully suspicious. Isn't that the GPS ant, as the radio ant is in the rear windscreen isn't it?

[mowog]

It would be good to know for sure where the GPS antenna is. I would hate to spend a small fortune on roof racks only to make my GPS useless. Well less useless than it is now anyway.

Some updates.

Rear spare carrier will be coming from 4x4 Intelligence.
The winch is on hold and will only happen if funds permit.

[mrd3]

:DHi every one the GPS antenna is located at the back end of the roof it is an expensive little sucker $1400.00 if damaged , on the note of winch bars i just had a ARB deluxe winch bar & had it colour coded $2300.00 fitted they did a great job
regards alan

[Celtoid]

It would be good to know for sure where the GPS antenna is. I would hate to spend a small fortune on roof racks only to make my GPS useless. Well less useless than it is now anyway.

Some updates.

Rear spare carrier will be coming from 4x4 Intelligence.
The winch is on hold and will only happen if funds permit.

There you go, mrd3 just solved the GPS problem. Regarding the winch....have you thought of Maxtrax as a cheap alternative?

They are about $300 but are well reported. Pros and cons versus the winch I suppose.

Regards,

Kev.

[Owl]

:DHi every one the GPS antenna is located at the back end of the roof it is an expensive little sucker $1400.00 if damaged , on the note of winch bars i just had a ARB deluxe winch bar & had it colour coded $2300.00 fitted they did a great job
regards alan

I have a full length steel roof rack (one of these - Tradesman Roof Racks - Home (http://www.tradesmanroofracks.com.au/page1.php)). So far, performance of the GPS / Sat-Nav appears no worse than before. I haven't loaded it up as yet, so performance may change..... I guess it will depend on what I carry up there!

[CaverD3]

I think the GPS antenna is in the upper brake light housing so should still work with a rack.
When I smashed mine I put my GPS antenna for the netbook in the new one.

[Preacher]

There you go, mrd3 just solved the GPS problem. Regarding the winch....have you thought of Maxtrax as a cheap alternative?

They are about $300 but are well reported. Pros and cons versus the winch I suppose.

Regards,

Kev.

Guys you're looking at $2300. for a Warn winch - there pretty good - BUT save yourself a heap of money and have a good look at the IRONMAN winches - 9500lb for $799.00 and $899.00 for a 12000lb - they proved pretty good in the last winch-off in one of the mags.
I've just taken delivery of a 05 TDV6, so ARB bull bar and winch a little way of yet, However just purchased 2 sets of MAXTRAX's - my idea is that no other vehicle except another Disco will ever pull me out of a bog - the guys in the 4WD club are just waiting for the day they can lend a hand - so it's MAXTRAX (and my son also with a D3) only until I can afford the IRONMAN winch. (they really are very good)

dj

[Celtoid]

:D
Guys you're looking at $2300. for a Warn winch - there pretty good - BUT save yourself a heap of money and have a good look at the IRONMAN winches - 9500lb for $799.00 and $899.00 for a 12000lb - they proved pretty good in the last winch-off in one of the mags.
I've just taken delivery of a 05 TDV6, so ARB bull bar and winch a little way of yet, However just purchased 2 sets of MAXTRAX's - my idea is that no other vehicle except another Disco will ever pull me out of a bog - the guys in the 4WD club are just waiting for the day they can lend a hand - so it's MAXTRAX (and my son also with a D3) only until I can afford the IRONMAN winch. (they really are very good)

dj

:D

[Tote]

That sound like someone I know that bought a snorkel because had had to get towed through a creek by a stinking cruiser due to concerns that the water may have come over the inlet in the guard. [bigwhistle]

Regards,
Tote

[DiscoWeb]

Item 1. The 18" wheels those are on the way. Tires are yet to be decided. I am thinking a more road biased tyre rather a set of mud diggers. I am open to suggestions on these.


Mowog,

I just fitted a set of Continental Cross Contact AT's on 18inch rims on a D3, see post 2 weeks ago "New Boots for the D3".

Whilst I am yet to use them in anger so far they are:

1. Very quite for what is a pretty aggressive AT tread pattern (i.e you need to have the window down to notice any increased road noise);

2. No noticeable change in fuel consumption;

3. No noticeable change in handling etc.

Other seem to like the Pirrelli Scorpion ATR's however there is a bit of wait on these 6- 8 weeks I think.

Hope this helps.

Also with regards to the winch have you consider a hand winch, much cheaper, do not have to carry it 100% of the time. Noting you are not going MT tyres I am assuming you are not planning to get to EXTREME and therefore will only attempt stuff that could leave stuck only when assistance is about or there is no other option so for the odd occasion you might need it a hand winch might be a reasonable option.

Good luck in your deliberations.

Regards,

George

[mowog]

George,

The other 4WD going the trip will have a winch. So I may just go down the path of a hand winch as a just in case.

Road noise is an important consideration on tyre selection. SWMBO will jack-up me if the tyres make to much noise. It will be a 6 week trip with lots of sealed roads.

Thanks for the tip on the tyres.

[DiscoWeb]

Mowog,

My wife drives the D3 most days and whilst she new were had 4 new tyres she was unaware I had changed to an AT's tread pattern until a few days after when I asked her if she had noticed any tyre noise, she had not.

The next day she said she concentrated a bit more on it and could just hear some noise but not enough to be any sort of a problem and certainly not enough to be a problem.

I went form a 100% road biased Continental Cross Contact UHP that came with the car to the Cross Contact AT's so I can honestly say noise is not an issue with these from my point of view.

George.