Capability of a standard 90

[Ringo90]

Hi guys,

New to 4wding, just purchased a D90, which we have been working towards for sometime..

What I didn't expect after reading all these posts, is the level of after market modifications done to the these cars. Some guys buying them new, then pouring another $10k in mods before hitting the dirt! Pretty daunting really, having just purchased the most expensive car we've ever owned...

On this basis, which of these mods are most essential? We are weekenders at best and still learning how to drive the thing, at what point are these upgrades required for 4wd adventuring?

How capable is the car without adding all theses mods?

Looking forward to your feedback,
Ringo

[vnx205]

There are plenty of Land Rover drivers who find that the vehicle is quite capable of doing everything they want to do with no modifications whatsoever.

You might be one of that group.

Get out and use it and you will find out .

[steveG]

Get some driver training for starters, either through joining a club or an independent provider, then get out with some other vehicles and just use it.
If you are new to 4WD you'll find the vehicle out of the factory will have capabilities far beyond your own.

Steve

[Psimpson7]

As above, just go and drive it! See how it goes! It will do far more than you believe exactly as it left the factory.

[isuzutoo-eh]

I highly recommend driving it standard for a good period of time before doing any modifications. It is very easy to get suckered in to the 'I must have xxxx bling in order to drive off-road' when it is nothing but the truth.
Your Land Rover is far more capable than you are off road. You just need to learn how to get the best from it. You will be a much better driver for it, if you haven't been able to rely on extra gadgetry to get you through the obstacles.
The more you know about how your car performs stock, the smarter the modifications you will eventually make to it will be.

Depending on what it comes with, usually the tyres are the first upgrade, and maybe a bull bar to protect the front end and hang a radio aerial from if you are driving with mates. Or because a bull bar suits the look of a Defender...
Otherwise modifications that suit you and your partner's lifestyle, be it drawers or an awning camping, roof bars for a surfboard, mats for transporting pets or carpet rolls for taking bodies in to state forests to bury...

[KarlB]

I have a 2010 D90 and couldn't agree more with the advice on here. Just drive it! The vehicle, of the showroom floor, is extremely capable and far exceeds most of its supposed competition. Any modifications or fit-out will become clear as you use the vehicle. While I added extras to mine at time of purchase, I have been a Land Rover owner for more than 40 years and had a good idea what I wanted and needed (they are very different things). For example, a D90 has a relatively small fuel tank (60 litres). While this is adequate for most uses, especially if you occasionally put a jerry can in the back, it will be inadequate for some remote area touring where you may need a range of 1,000 km between fuel stops (ie about 120 litres) and room in the back for touring gear (not limited by the presence of 3 jerry cans). I haven't even considered modifying the suspension or changing the tyre size though I changed the tyres to a different type (tread pattern) when the originals had to be replaced.

You will get plenty of advice on the forum if and when you consider any modifications or fit-out.

A few last words: always remember that the vehicle is more capable than you are; and always drive gently but with determination.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[phibbzy]

Agreed with the above, hit it standard first then upgrade what you find lacking or what you will find useful and take your time to research your upgrades. Going into OL or ARB and dropping 10k might just find you with a $2000 locker you never use or the $1000 suspension kit that's too hard etc etc...

I reckon you will be pleasantly surprised at how capable your unit is. :D:D

[PAT303]

I don't mod any of my vehicles,you'll get further knowing how to drive it than relying on lockers.Forget any of the ''performance'' mods sold in Oz,LR have been building vehicles long before any of them ever started and none of them improve what you already have,a set of mulgo seat rails and more fuel capacity is what you want,I like a second tank rather than one big one and for a few hundred dollars a poly tank behind the back seats gives a big range increase. Pat

[Gerokent]

Learn how to look after it as well. You will gain more confidence in the vehicle when you know how it works as a whole machine, and when you know that all the oils are topped up and all the bolts are tight.
Look after it and it will give you plenty to smile about.

[tequesta]

I agree to start with driver training first.
The d90 is brilliant stock, and it brings a smile to my face everytime it performs.
Based on my use as a occassional weekend driver, in 2 years I've added recovery points, and safety equipment (first aid kit & fire extinguisher), and following that, vehicle protection (steering guard) & a small UHF radio.
Good luck... J

[rijidij]

Get some driver training for starters, either through joining a club or an independent provider, then get out with some other vehicles and just use it.
If you are new to 4WD you'll find the vehicle out of the factory will have capabilities far beyond your own.

Steve

I second this...............you'll find some 4WD clubs offer driver training courses at a fraction of the cost of commercial courses and the club members who run the training have to be fully trained and accredited (in Vic anyway)
If you join a Land Rover based club you also get the benefit of the experience of other Landy owners..........some of my best mates I met through LROCV.

You have just bought a very capable vehicle, even without modifications a 90 will outperform many others.

Regarding what to do to your car, well that depends on what sort of driving you want to do, for example, if you want to tour the outback one of the first things you'll need on a 90 is bigger fuel carrying capacity due to the smaller standard tank, maybe a bull bar for protection from Skippy. But if you're happy to do short trips closer to home, then you will probably find the standard 90 will do everything you want to do.
The list is really endless when it comes to accessories, my advise is also "just use it" as it is. There is definitely no need to rush out and spend a heap of extra cash straight away.
Every 90 owner who I've done work for LOVES their 90 :D

Cheers, Murray

[vnx205]

What I didn't expect after reading all these posts, is the level of after market modifications done to the these cars. Some guys buying them new, then pouring another $10k in mods before hitting the dirt!

What you might have gathered from the comments is that there is a very good chance that the vehicle in standard form is capable of doing more than you would be able to do or would be wise to do at this stage.

You have to remember that an enormous number of those modifications are done because people want to do them, not because they need to do them.

You also need to remember that for every person who feels the need to post on the forum about the enormous tyres, suspension lift, performance improvement or some other modification they have carried out, there are probably several other forum members whose vehicle do everything they want to do without changing a thing.

It is just that people who are pretty happy with the Land Rover as it came from the factory don't feel the need to tell the world about it, so you get a distorted view of the prevalence of modifications.

[steveG]

I agree to start with driver training first.
The d90 is brilliant stock, and it brings a smile to my face everytime it performs.
Based on my use as a occassional weekend driver, in 2 years I've added recovery points, and safety equipment (first aid kit & fire extinguisher), and following that, vehicle protection (steering guard) & a small UHF radio.
Good luck... J

Definitely agree with that.
While it doesn't have to be a fixed unit, a UHF radio is definitely one of the first things to get. As a newbie, being able to ask questions and get info from others you are out with is a huge kickstart to your learning - particularly if you are out with similar vehicles when you can get advice on gear selection or driving lines etc.
Much more social too.

Steve

[ProjectDirector]

Hi, I have a 110 and I only have recovery and protection gear. Just to put things into perspective, the first time I went with friend who has a 70 series cruiser 2"lift and 35" tyres incl air lockers he was surprised I could go everywhere he went. His comment was quote"I can't believe a car straight out of showroom can do this"
So there you have it.

[isuzurover]

I highly recommend driving it standard for a good period of time before doing any modifications. It is very easy to get suckered in to the 'I must have xxxx bling in order to drive off-road' ...



Your Land Rover is far more capable than you are off road.


Well said.

When I first started 4x4ing I was amazed at where you could go with a standard (unlocked, no ETC) vehicle. I think most people don't realise this unless they have been in a 4x4 club doing hard offroad trips.

I spent many years driving an unlocked vehicle, trying to follow people with lockers and ETC, and I think it made me a much better driver.

I notice you are in Brisbane? I would join either the LROCB ( http://www.lrocbrisbane.org.au/ ) or GCLRO ( http://www.gclro.com/ ) and go out on a few trips. This will let you see (A) what a standard vehicle can do and (B) see what mods others have and how they work for them.

[Lagerfan]

Just over a year ago we were in exactly the same boat, with a shiny new 90 in the driveway having never owned a real 4wd. We have since spent a bit on accessories but they have all been for the benefit of touring (roof rack, bull bar, cargo barrier + rear bar/jerry holder), we haven't bought anything specifically for 4wding other than a portable compressor, a godsend for airing up out in the middle of nowhere.

All the talk about lockers, lifts, wide tyres etc. generally has me a) baffled and b) well beyond my driving ability. I'm sure with more experience that may change but for now I can't see any need beyond stock.

[Leroy_Riding]

I am a stock 2012 90 owner, coming from a jap 4wd with 3" lift wide mud tires and air lockers. . . . The 90 in stock form out performs in every aspect, on road and off.

The only modifications to mine so far have been roof cage to carry tent/swag and to mount an awning onto, aside those uses the family borrows my car to pick up large flat items (sheets of ply etc) as its a 2.1x1.2mtr flat deck

Removed the rear seats (didn’t want them anyway and you can’t buy the 'panel van' version in AUS fitted rear draws and fridge for camping trips and to keep my car organised.

tow bar is essential for me, and was fitted aftermarket (but using a LR genuine part) so much cheaper to do it yourself and very easy (pm me if you fit one and need help) but may not be as essential for you.

I also fitted an LED light bar and cheap spotlights as i drive at night a lot (have a larger light bar and better spot lights to replace the current ones) the factory headlights are a bit average, but replace the bulbs with some of the Philips +100's and you may not need spot lights/light bar depending on your requirements (i fitted them and still found them inadequate, though I am scared of the dark :P )

otherwise agree with previous statements, some people mod there’s to drive the forestry's each weekend getting covered in Mud, others (like me) use our cars for towing big loads, camping on long weekends, beach trips and a little light touring.

its going to depends on what you want to use your defender for as to what mods you will need, a lot are easily done cheap/free anyway and are more for convenience rather than a requirement.

my 2c
Leroy

[jimr1]

Welcome to the forum Ringo , You asked , and you were given lots of good advice , I'm sure as you become familiar with your 90 on and off road your confidence in your truck will continue . I would like to wish you happy and safe four wheel driving in your new 90 Jim.. :)

[Ringo90]

Great advice, and reassuring to be honest, I'm going to touch base with Brisbanes' LROC and go from there. Thanks to everyone for their comments and feedback!

Cheers,
Ringo

[FeatherWeightDriver]

^^^ What they said.

I would suggest making sure you have recovery options front and rear sorted, although even that may fall in to the "optional" category if you choose not to get stuck ;)

[DiscoMick]

Yep, recovery options, good tyres, a UHF and whatever you want for camping are the starters, I reckon. Then any necessary internal electrics for a fridge etc. We added a Detroit auto locker in the rear, a suspension upgrade and I'm plannng some drawers/shelves. Put some Phillips 100 + bulbs in the lights. Get out and enjoy.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

[Sitec]

Hi Ringo90.
More of the same advice here too! I've run many Land Rovers since I was able to drive them, and my old 1984 Factory V8 Poo Brown D90 was by far the most capable Land Rover I've owned.. It went everywhere!! Loved it. The only mods I made back then were 750 R16 tyres as they were taller for green laning. The only modification I'd suggest for yours is a snorkel so it gets clean air from above, and purchase a 'Bubba Rope' for snatch recoveries if you are planning a few trips. Well done on selecting what should be an awesome car! Cheers for now. :)