Thread: Using the disco a an off roader

ha thats a good one...

Originally Posted by Reads90

Although a disco 1 are good fun.

You can still get in trouble with them :-)



Sorry could resist posting that pic

Hi Les

my advice to you would be to forget the modifications for the moment you said you were new to 4wding.

the Disco is a very capable car out of the box you will be surprised where the car will take you.

ideally what you need to do is go out and do some easy moderate 4wding with something that will on occasions test you and the car....not for the whole trip just a section that will do that...that way it will give you a real sense of achievement when you conquer it

get out and about in the car a fair bit and get a real feel for the car and learn about wheel placement and your throttle control etc....learn how to drive it first!!!!

Then start to slowly add the mods as and when you feel the car is being held back (for instance a lift if you do harder tracks that really require some ground clearance)...by getting to know the car and its limitations will make you appreciate your limitations and keep your expectations of the car and any mods you make to it, realistic.


too many people buy a car throw heaps of money at it to mod it up how they think it should be modded and then still drive like **** off road.
However these types of people then tend to blame the car for being a peice of junk that cant get anywhere, 80% of the time its the driver and their experience.

Too many people rely on their modifications to get them out of trouble..the key is to drive well not get in trouble and if you do your driving and your modifcations will help you to get out as damage free as possible

Just my personal opinion of course and not one you have to take.

I had my car 5yrs before I put lockers in it just to give you some idea...one of our cars is not modified at all and it goes everywhere

thats good advice. thanks

thanks every one to for all your experience, it make me feel better that my rover is a capable 4x4. i suppose that what you get in a club full of Toyota and nisains... they make you second guess your purchase.
thanks again.
Les

Originally Posted by dullbird

Hi Les

my advice to you would be to forget the modifications for the moment you said you were new to 4wding.

the Disco is a very capable car out of the box you will be surprised where the car will take you.

ideally what you need to do is go out and do some easy moderate 4wding with something that will on occasions test you and the car....not for the whole trip just a section that will do that...that way it will give you a real sense of achievement when you conquer it

get out and about in the car a fair bit and get a real feel for the car and learn about wheel placement and your throttle control etc....learn how to drive it first!!!!

Then start to slowly add the mods as and when you feel the car is being held back (for instance a lift if you do harder tracks that really require some ground clearance)...by getting to know the car and its limitations will make you appreciate your limitations and keep your expectations of the car and any mods you make to it, realistic.


too many people buy a car through heaps of money at it to mod it up how they think it should be modded and then still drive like **** off road.
However these types of people then tend to blame the car for being a peice of junk that cant get anywhere, 80% of the time its the driver and their experience.

Too many people rely on their modifications to get them out of trouble..the key is to drive well not get in trouble and if you do your driving and your modifcations will help you to get out as damage free as possible

Just my personal opinion of course and not one you have to take.

I had my car 5yrs before I put lockers in it just to give you some idea...one of our cars is not modified at all and it goes everywhere

Dullbird, You should post that message at the top of the Aulro folders. For someone just getting into the off road lifestyle there could be no better advice, no matter what they drive.
Cheers, Rick.

Wise words dullbird.

I have a snorkel - never been in deep enough water to need it, but have done plenty of creek crossings.
I have a winch - used once but I was being over ambitious because I wanted to test the winch.
I have factory suspension, no lockers or any other mods.
I do have decent tyres - and worth while doing at next change IMO.

All the 4wd'ing I do is achieved without the mods to get me there. Plenty to learn and do with a factory standard '95 Disco!!

It could be worthwhile checking out driver training run by a Land Rover club.
I did the Land Rover Owners Club of Victoria 4x4 proficency course when I first got my Disco 2, and found the day invaluable.

There are some suggestions for the Brisbane/GC area in this thread:

4WD Driver training - Brisbane area

2inch lift is a waste of money , learn how to drive it, mine is stock standard and will go anywhere a two inch lift will go.

Les, I see you are in Ipswich

The 3" dobinsons lift you mentioned will not be road legal. For QLD the biggest spring lift you can do under any circumstances is 2" that is if you want your insurance to remain intact

245/75R16 is the largest tyre you can go, unfortunately 31" tyres are 2mm too big and although popular for Discos 235/85R16 is illegal in QLD.