Disco 5 as serious off-roader/tourer

[nawagadj]

Hoping for some advice from the experts here.

Considering the Discovery 5 as my new car, coming from a long line of Hilux’s.
Other options are a new Hilux or a Prado, even a 200 L/C.


The LR have always been attractive form their undoubted off-road ability, and the Discovery 5 seems to have that covered.


But, this isn’t a pick-up-the-kids and an odd w/e adventure car It is for serious off-raod and touring – Arnhem Land, Kimberley, Cape York.


So, there remain a few doubts in my mind;


1. After–market accessories. Seems to be almost none so far. Looking for winch-compatible bull bar, snorkel and maybe a long range tank (not likely?).


2. The air suspension is both attractive from a ride/handling pov, as well as concerning. Recently had some friends come across a LR stuck at Bungle Bungles due to hitting a washout a bit too fast and blowing the air-bags. Car could be driven, but not enough clearance to get out – very expensive tow.


3. Damn, what is it with the wheel size? Don’t they want these things to go bush?? Maybe 18” is a possibility. Maybe not?


Would be great if anyone has already found answers to these questions. This car could be an absolute weapon off-road with the right gear.

[Tombie]

Hello..

1. The market hasn’t advised what it intends to do yet. One of the things holding me back at this point from upgrading from my D4 (the other is the impending Defender)

2. I’ve hammered the D4 - to pop the bags these people must have been absolutely - beyond sensible - and been low level flying... are you sure it wasn’t the SRS bags that went? They would be expected to trigger on any make that hit with significant force. There was a D3 that hit a sink hole years ago and triggered the lot!

3. There are 18” options out there aftermarket.

APT is tooling up for some protection and adventure gear too, may be worth a call...

[DiscoMick]

D5 should be great. I bet ARB, TJM etc are developing accessories right now.

Remember how people said the D2 was too complicated to be any good. Then they said the D3 wouldn't be as good as the D2. Then they said the D4 would never cope. They were wrong every time. I'll bet the same is true of the D5.

[nawagadj]

APT is tooling up for some protection and adventure gear too, may be worth a call...

Looks like they're still working on it. Guess it's early days.

[LRD414]

1. After–market accessories. Seems to be almost none so far. Looking for winch-compatible bull bar, snorkel and maybe a long range tank (not likely?).
2.The air suspension is both attractive from a ride/handling pov, as well as concerning. Recently had some friends come across a LR stuck at Bungle Bungles due to hitting a washout a bit too fast and blowing the air-bags. Car could be driven, but not enough clearance to get out – very expensive tow.
3.Damn, what is it with the wheel size? Don’t they want these things to go bush?? Maybe 18” is a possibility. Maybe not?

1. Accessories. This will require patience and perhaps having a good think about what you really need for a given trip.
2. Car could be driven but low clearance. Very unlikely to be blown air bags and almost certainly not just a "bit" too fast. More likely damaged height sensors causing the suspension to drop.
3. There is an aftermarket 18" steel wheel that fits. See here > 18" Steel Wheels now available for Discovery 3, 4 and 5 (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/the-verandah/250701-18-steel-wheels-now-available-discovery-3-4-5-a.html) and here > https://www.tuffant.com/
Plus the Compomotive 18" alloy wheels that fit D4s will also fit the new Discovery.

Scott

[LRD414]

Looks like they're still working on it. Guess it's early days.
That's right but he's bought one for himself so there's major commitment there.

[Graeme]

LLAMS will be available as soon as I can confirm that its not too difficult a task to run a wire from above the driver's foot-well to the fuse panel behind the passenger glove-box.

[PerthDisco]

When driving down the Forrest Fwy (WA) on Dec 30 a silver D5 passed me with roof rack, max tracks etc. towing a VIC plated off-road pop up camper. Did give me a surprise. Could not confirm if was a VIC car.

[scarry]

Hello..

1. The market hasn’t advised what it intends to do yet. One of the things holding me back at this point from upgrading from my D4 (the other is the impending Defender)

2. I’ve hammered the D4 - to pop the bags these people must have been absolutely - beyond sensible - and been low level flying... are you sure it wasn’t the SRS bags that went? They would be expected to trigger on any make that hit with significant force. There was a D3 that hit a sink hole years ago and triggered the lot!

3. There are 18” options out there aftermarket.

APT is tooling up for some protection and adventure gear too, may be worth a call...

I have an email from ARB,which i can't find at the moment,that says they have nothing being developed for this model.

This could change in the future,but that is the current situation.

A call to them by the OP would clarify this.

There is also other suppliers,OL,TJM,ECB,APT,etc.

[DiscoTom]

Hi Perth Disco,
have just taken delivery of my D5 HSE TD6 and managed to fit roof rails & get racks, Rhino manufacture them.
Dealer managed to get AT(passenger rated, not, light truck) tyres for my 20" rims. seems 18" do not fit.
tyres manufactured by Toyo, so, hope fully should be OK. ???.

Cheers Tom
Perth WA

[LRD414]

There are two aftermarket 18” options that fit the D5 TD6 as per my earlier post.

[Chops]

I did Googs track on 20’s with no problems other than the fact I was towing a trailer. Just over 5 tonne in total. It may have been nicer to have 18’s and be able to go down with the air a bit more, but alas, ‘‘twas all I had. Haven’t done a lot of high country work yet, but, as always, it’ll be pick the line and drive to the conditions.
I think, if I thought I was going to need too much speed to get over some obstacles, and I thought I was going to damage tyres, I’d winch it. Times always an issue when out and about,, but I’d sooner blow time than money 💰 and ultimately, wouldn’t care what others thought about the slower process/progress.

[Tombie]

Sage advice Chops!

[PerthDisco]

Hi Perth Disco,
have just taken delivery of my D5 HSE TD6 and managed to fit roof rails & get racks, Rhino manufacture them.
Dealer managed to get AT(passenger rated, not, light truck) tyres for my 20" rims. seems 18" do not fit.
tyres manufactured by Toyo, so, hope fully should be OK. ???.

Cheers Tom
Perth WA

Hi Tom
Was that you I saw towing the VIC plated camper heading down south on the 30th?

Looked good.
Richard

[Graeme]

Hi Perth Disco,
have just taken delivery of my D5 HSE TD6 and managed to fit roof rails & get racks, Rhino manufacture them.
Dealer managed to get AT(passenger rated, not, light truck) tyres for my 20" rims. seems 18" do not fit.
tyres manufactured by Toyo, so, hope fully should be OK. ???.
Next time you might consider 275/55R20 instead of 255/55R20 as they're less than 1" larger OD and there is a wider choice including at least 1 LT.

[RobA]

Will be watching this thread closely over the next 6 months as we decide if we go with new disco or lc200. We are pricing up a HSE and high spec SE to see how they compare to a VX with a lot of 4WD accessories which they need and the new disco doesn't. Not fussed with a bull bar but would prefer one as our main frontal protection. Apart from that a dual battery kit is already sorted by the look of things and we may not even need LLAMS for our touring and tow car.

Hoping to see lots more discussion on fit out as the early adopters take up the challenge of the new

Rob

[LRD414]

Will be watching this thread closely over the next 6 months as we decide if we go with new disco or lc200.
I'm surprised you'd be moving on so soon from the D4 Rob.

Regards,
Scott

[RobA]

Scott hello. Just starting to do the numbers as a new disco will take around 6 months to get here and I want to allow one full year of production for them to sort out the bugs which are always there regardless of manufacturer.

I have to say my strong preference is to stay with LR and a Disco. I am concerned the new Defender may not have the towing capacity I need, 350 down ball and >2500kg. Hopefully that will not be the case but what little we have seen from LR does not fill me with confidence right now

We normally start our replacement considerations 1-2 years ahead simply because of our duty cycle which keeps increasing. For example 3 months in Tassie this year followed by around 4 months in WA all towing the Q+. That equates to another 30,000km on the car which means it will have travelled around 100,000km on four years. So far reliability has been superb and the car just keeps on keeping on delivering excellent fuel efficiency and comfort as well. I would not change our setup at all apart from reviewing our need for LLAMS. Hoping someone does a bull bar but I reckon for the local market that will be at least a year away

No sweat doing the numbers and the planning that is a small part of any purchase and who knows something else may appear on the market. We are also watching with great interest the new GWagon but cost is prohibitive to say the least

Onwards and upwards

Rob