Oh' to set up a Disco 2 for outback touring?

[Wash Your Landrover]

I am pondering the usual must haves for setting up my 2002 TD5 Auto for 6 week jaunts into our lesser known regions of aussies interior.The vehicle is well maintained with low kilometres.
The obvious add ons of winch/winch bar, snorkel,UHF radio,additional transmission oil cooler (towing a camper trlr)and my biggest concern is the lack of the centre diff lock. The actation rod in the transfere case has been replaced with a blank housing with no sign of the centre diff lock.
Ive thought of ARB lockers But there very expensive.There must be a better way,the landrover way. How about replacing the transfere case with a diff lock model? What probs to encounter with the Traction Control in the vehicle.
:confused: As may be obvious your thoughts appreciated!

[LandyAndy]

You need the early or late D2 transfercase.Traction control works VERY well with the CDL locked.Soft beach sand is OK as long as you have aired down,if not the TC will do its best to bury you.
A nanocom or similar plus a RAVE CD(workshop manual on CD) are a must,plus the ability to work and understand the nanocom.
ENJOY
Andrew

[scarry]

Had the model without the CDL for a while & didn't have any problems,but with CDL is definitely better.If you are not doing any VERY tough 4WDing,i would leave it as is & spend the money elsewhere.
You have the winch if you really get into trouble.

[Tombie]

Std transmission cooler is fine if its not full of mud in the fins!

Retrofit the CDL gear into the TC

The other gear on your list is good.

2" lift

EGR removal + Mild tune upgrade.

[justinc]

DO NOT skimp on suspension. Plenty of good real world advice and testimonials from users here on whats best for what on their D2's.

Personally I have had good results with Bilstein shocks and LRA springs, but there are plenty of other packages, just choose quality components.


$$$ spent in this department is a good safety and reliability tip:)

JC

[dmdigital]

Fit a greaseable DC joint on the front prop shaft - or am I being paranoid from a bad experience:confused:.
Consider a good hand winch over an electric winch but still carry a snatch block and other recovery gear. Also make sure you have front and rear recovery points fitted (Troutbeck sell front recovery eye plates) and a tow hitch recovery receiver is good value to carry for the rear.
Like JC mentioned don't skimp on suspension.
You may find the ARB lockers aren't as expensive as getting a CDL transfer case.
I'd also get a larger intercooler as this will improve things in hot weather.

Carry two jack stands - one for the car, one for trailer. I realised this mistake when I had to use it under the trailer at the camp site and drove out for the day thinking "I hope I don't need that!"
Carry a spare jack.
Flush your entire windscreen washer system until it is only clean water, this gives you about 9L of drinking water in an emergency.

[Wash Your Landrover]

Thanks Tombie2
the local LR workshop push the additional trans cooler very hard,they tee off original lines & fitt an additional cooler.
2'' lift lift good I have SLS (recent new airbags)
What, mild tune upgrade, is this via electronics??

[Wash Your Landrover]

Thanks to all for your time.I know this is decision time that we all debate about around the gas stove. I'm trying to wade through the real valuable items & not get caught up in the fluffy rubbish out there I dont need.
To keep SLS or go full coils?? Argh another dilema!
Cheers to all

[big guy]

Plenty of cars without a CDL have made it but it does give some more piece of mind.
Rear diff lock also makes a big difference.
Also pack spare hoses and belts, snatch strap, pressure gauge, hammer, spanners, 2 rolls of heavy duty tape, air jack, long shovel, matches and matches and flushing windscreen washer reservoir is brilliant idea.

Check the exhaust and all bolts with suspension, they be first to get loose.
Take spare wheel nuts too and spare fuses.

Don't forget the ipod, outback touring can be a bit bland.

Happy touring.

[johnclv]

Get a Sat phone and have the numbers of your LR mechanic handy. It was the most used "tool" in my tool box when trying to take my D2 around OZ

[Tombie]

Get a Sat phone and have the numbers of your LR mechanic handy. It was the most used "tool" in my tool box when trying to take my D2 around OZ

Seriously John

Cant you go troll somewhere else? :mad:

U didnt like your Disco, it had issues.. Fine...

But many do, and tow just fine, and dont have reliability issues, nor other problems...

I can dig up a post about a few friends Toyos / Nissans and their horror runs with them. Quite enough on its own to convince people they arent all they're cracked up to be.

The ratio number of Landrovers actually used offroad vs sold far exceeds the number of Jap 4wds sold vs used offroad.

[djam1]

The ratio number of Landrovers actually used offroad vs sold far exceeds the number of Jap 4wds sold vs used offroad.

Very valid point

[Slunnie]

Get a Sat phone and have the numbers of your LR mechanic handy. It was the most used "tool" in my tool box when trying to take my D2 around OZ
I've never heard a D2 being called a toolbox before. :p

[johnclv]

Seriously John

Cant you go troll somewhere else? :mad:

....


Sorry mate - I do actually put some usefull stuff up on here as well, but every so often I can't help my self

[scarry]

The ratio number of Landrovers actually used offroad vs sold far exceeds the number of Jap 4wds sold vs used offroad.

Land Rovers found off road are aften stock,where as most of the Jap one's have to be heavily modified.......

I have had D2 TD5's for 10yrs,done a hell of a lot of 4wding,& never ever had a breakdown.
In fact the 04 one i have now is probably the most reliable vehicle i have ever had.It's done two long cape trips,simpson desert,etc,etc& never missed a beat
As for outback touring,a well maintained vehicle is a must.As are regular checks over the complete vehicle every day or two.

Happy touring

And i forgot,good set of tyres,and two spares are a must....

[Benny_IIA]

Thanks Tombie2
the local LR workshop push the additional trans cooler very hard,they tee off original lines & fitt an additional cooler.
2'' lift lift good I have SLS (recent new airbags)
What, mild tune upgrade, is this via electronics??


Tombie does 2" spacers for the sls.

Yes mild tune can be done just by remaping the ecu......yep Tombie again :angel:

[Bundalene]

Hi, we have taken our D2 to many off the beaten track places - towing a boat (as we love our fishing) Places include Shellbourne Bay on Cape York twice, Weipa 4 times, Calvert River on Wollagarang 3 times, Gove 3 times etc,etc. Ours is a TD5 vehicle with the standard chip.

In over 200,000kms of touring, we never broke down once, other than tyre problems. Just keep your vehicle well maintained.

As Derek said, have your front tailshaft upgraded to greasable unis. The unis themselves are not expensive and your local mechanic should be able to fit them in an hour. Keep this greased every 10,000kms or after a lot of rain etc.

Also lengthen the drain from the airconditioning under the car, so that it doesn't drip onto the tail shaft, and the auto mech on the other side.

Also change the hard plastic water pipe from your fill bottle to the radiator, with a more flexible type and in the case of a V8, there is a second one of these brittle pipes to the top of the engine.

Also check your ECU plug for any signs of oil . I think the 02 models still had issues with oil in the injector harness. Again this isn't an expensive bit of preventative maintenance to change - a bit over $100 for another harness.

You seem to have covered suspension. As for the CDL, we only ever used this when launching the boat on a beach somewhere. and then still usually need the winch. For general touring and with a winch as back-up, you should be OK.

I would put my money on extra fuel range (long range tank) and dual batteries and the holiday.

Happy touring, Erich

[big guy]

Good summary Bundalene.
Fuel range gives peace of mind, so do batteries(2) as in the heat one can fry very easily.

[cewilson]

I am pondering the usual must haves for setting up my 2002 TD5 Auto for 6 week jaunts into our lesser known regions of aussies interior.The vehicle is well maintained with low kilometres.
The obvious add ons of winch/winch bar, snorkel,UHF radio,additional transmission oil cooler (towing a camper trlr)and my biggest concern is the lack of the centre diff lock. The actation rod in the transfere case has been replaced with a blank housing with no sign of the centre diff lock.
Ive thought of ARB lockers But there very expensive.There must be a better way,the landrover way. How about replacing the transfere case with a diff lock model? What probs to encounter with the Traction Control in the vehicle.
:confused: As may be obvious your thoughts appreciated!

IMHO:

Must Have's:
Bullbar
Spotlights
Snorkel
Decent suspension
Dual batteries (only if the camper doesn't have batteries, otherwise don't bother - you can jump start from the camper if necessary)
Tyre repair kit
Two spare tyres
UHF
Full Recovery Kit (inc hand winch)
Front and rear recovery points
Bottle jack and base plate (think trailer.....)
Radiator hoses, belts, filters etc
Jerry cans
Air compressor
Decent tyres (LT all terrains minimum)
Fridge (yes you can use an esky - but try it when you're away from civilisation for over 5 days.....)
Basic tool kit inc jumper cables, zip ties, wire and tape :p

Nice to have:
Electric winch (I've never had one and quite honestly never needed one as the threat of the hand winch makes me think twice) :wasntme:
Suspension lift
Roof rack
ECU upgrade
Intercooler upgrade
Extra transmission cooler
Sat phone/HF radio (can leave itinerary with loved ones)
Water tank
Long range fuel tanks
Diff locks (inc centre)
Greasable uni-joints (BTW they are very easy to source and fit)
and the list really does grow longer and longer.



Personally fit the basics and your list will grow every trip guaranteed :angel:


Cheers
Chris

[justinc]

Most important also, don't forget the vehicle has to lug around all the accessories. Don't go too overboard or you'll induce a failure with all the added weight:eek:

JC

[cewilson]

Most important also, don't forget the vehicle has to lug around all the accessories. Don't go too overboard or you'll induce a failure with all the added weight:eek:

JC

It's scary when you look at a list like that - esp when you know that you have most of it fitted :angel:

[Zute]

If your traveling with friends, try not to double up on gear. ie, how many hi lift jacks do you need to take ?
I think excessive weight causes more breakages.
And don't forget to take something to put all the souvenirs in.