Approach angle Defender Vs Disco 3

[Diego Luego]

I still haven't convinced myself that I will be happy downgrading to a Discovery.

Whenever me and my little brother are out and about, me in my Xtreme and him in his 2002 Disco 2 with air suspension, it is either the approach angle or the departure angle that lets him down and we have to go back and collect the bits.

One trip he smashed his air dam, the next he broke his (landrover branded) tow hitch.... and he is not a cowboy. Needless to say, I have never gone even near to breaking anything on my Defender.

Can anyone please reassure me that a Disco 3 with height adjustment has a good enough approach angle/departure angle?

The nominal approach angle on my Defender is 49 degrees but with the bull bar and winch it is more like 45 degrees. And according to the blurb the Disco 3 is 37 degrees with off road height.

Speak to me Discovery 3 owners, what is your actual experience. Do you leave bits behind when the going gets tough like my little bro?

[PhilipA]

Have you ever seen a Disco 3 (I assume)factory towbar?
Its about 100MM from the ground.
I couldn't believe the stupid design on the one camped next to me at Mollymook a couple of weeks ago.
Regards Philip A

[WhiteD3]

I've had no probs with approach/departure angles and the only bit that's fallen off is the front recovery point cover (which you're supposed to remove prior to leaving the tarmac anyway).

[Diego Luego]

Now you've relly got me worried, will my 4WD camping trailer look like it's nosediving if it's attached to a Disco 3? It sits perfectly level behind the Defender.

[B92 8NW]

I'm not at all convinced that going from a Defender to a Disco 3 is a "downgrade"... it's almost a paradox:D.

There are ways around these problems - a front bull bar on the D3 will surely restore the approach angle, and the last time I went on a trip a gent in a D2 removed the rear bumper and left it at home, quote "because it always fell off".

As for the tow bar, it is possible to use a static one instead of the height adjustable one... I believe Land Rover offer both, In my pdf Disco 3 manual it shows both. I can post the diagram if you like.

[Diego Luego]

(I wrote "downgrading" sort of tongue in cheek -> it depends on your perspective)

Thanks a lot - why can't the salesmen tell me these things? What are they actually there for?

I have just spent three hours in the showroom and I queried the heights of the towbar - 400mm normal height - 450mm off road height in the D3 against 600mg in the Defender.

Can I get back to you if I need?

[Xavie]

They are there to take as much many as they can.

Xavier

[Diego Luego]

To stop us stealing the Range Rover Sports

[BigJon]

(I wrote "downgrading" sort of tongue in cheek -> it depends on your perspective)

Thanks a lot - why can't the salesmen tell me these things? What are they actually there for?

I have just spent three hours in the showroom and I queried the heights of the towbar - 400mm normal height - 450mm off road height in the D3 against 600mg in the Defender.

Can I get back to you if I need?

I believe 450 mm is the Australian Standard for towbars.

[Diego Luego]

That implies the Disco 3 towbar is 50mmg too low - it should be 450mm at normal height not at off road height.

What I really want to know, does the towbar on the Disco 3 cause a problem in real life, like on the Disco 2? (which I have seen broken off in a step-down )

[Tango51]

I really want to know too!

[B92 8NW]

If you leave it in, then probably yes. I cant see just a plain hitch receiver being broken off.

[gghaggis]

I think it'll depend on what you'll be towing and where.

I've towed a Jayco off-road caravan on "desert treks" without issue (Gunbarrel, Mt Augustus-Ashburton Downs) and sand/beaches.

On the other hand, I accidently left the tow hitch on whilst playing down in Harvey (forests, mud, hill climbs - pretty extreme stuff) and by the time I realised, it had jammed in there for the day (took a hammer and crowbar to get it out!) - that certainly hampered my progress....

As for clearance issues - there are disadvantages and advantages. The D3 is never going to equal the Defender's approach or departure angles (a bull bar will improve it, but still not to a Defender's level). So buy bridging ladders :D

On the other hand, there are no diffs hanging down below the chassis rail, ready to bury themselves in the mud and hold you up. That always seems to be the point at which my D3 gets through and a Defender won't.

Cheers,

Gordon

[Diego Luego]

That has cheered me up a bit.

Are you serious, that a standard Disco 3 can go where standard Defenders can't? I would love to see that!

I am not a cowboy but have immense respect for my Xtreme's ability, It always goes anywhere I am game to go.

[BigJon]

I think if you saw what a standard D3 can do offroad you would be very impressed. The traction control system is nothing short of amazing.

[Diego Luego]

Don't forget that our Xtremes have traction control too (It has saved me from emabrrasment a couple of times!).

So does my brothers Disco 2, but he runs into things with his very expensive air dam, and leaves bits of the back behind on step-downs. It's not the traction, or the articulation I am querying but the clearance.

[BigJon]

Don't forget that our Xtremes have traction control too (It has saved me from emabrrasment a couple of times!).

.

Defender and Disco II traction control is not a patch on Disco 3 traction control.

[Diego Luego]

Now I am getting interested.

[Frenchie]

I have been off-roading with Gordon and I believe that his D3, which has some decent tyres, as generally more capable than my Defender..........


........as long as everything is working!

Tends to drag its belly a bit when the air suspension compressor stops. ;)

You also need to get the spare out from underneath.

If I could afford a TDV6 with rear difflock AND fit it out like Gordon's I would have one in a heartbeat. Can't justify that sort of dosh though. ;)