Thread: Capable - Definition of YOUR vehicle!

Originally Posted by Vern

I think this somes it up Tombie

Perhaps for some, but there's no way I'd say my own D1 is one car for every job. I've built mine for off road and its approaching a point where I will need to buy a normal car soon and reserve the Disco for 4wding.

It's lifted so it's no good for underground or multi storey carparks.
It's got Centipedes on it so handles like crap on tarmac, especially when wet.
The tyres are probably too large for the factory gearing, it gets 14.5 to the hundred and needs a boot load and a half to get moving.
It certainly isn't the vehicle if you need to impress anyone. Have had to chauffeur an international airline executive worth millions complete with wet carpets from smelly Kinglake water. Way to market oneself as a complete bogan.

Sure you can set a vehicle up to be jack of all trades, but it wouldn't be a master of offroading then

Each to their own, you've built it for the purpose you want and that's great.

Mine is my everyday car and I have no alternative, it has to be reliable and there to use so I (perhaps) wouldn't subject it to the same extremes. It's still 'capable' of doing probably 90% of what you do with yours though.

There's also the value of the car to be taken into account. I'd be far less concerned chucking a couple of grands worth of Disco or Defender into a deep river than I would be taking my RRS or a new D4.

Horses for courses and all that

The one that gives you the best sleep....the night before you do Interesting Driving , never even questioning whether it will get there & back or if/when anything is going to fail.

- Where 'maintenance' is the car having a planned event due to accrued mileage, - not 'cos its broken, and a "Repair" is something done to a puncture...

All about your confidence in your vehicle, regardless of the marque's reputation.

(Even better if your faith justified !)

Originally Posted by B92 8NW

Have had to chauffeur an international airline executive worth millions complete with wet carpets from smelly Kinglake water. ....

You sure he was'nt secretly envious of your laid-back lifestyle ?

Originally Posted by Tombie

Define what makes a 4wd (your 4wd) capable, and your definition there of.

Out of the box;

Good clearance
Good departure and approach angles
Solid Axles
Light
Low range
Low gearing (6 speed)
Centre diff lock
Traction Control
Good vision
Torque / power
Gearing matches engine
Long legs 10L / 100km (diesel)
1,000kg payload
250kg ball weight / 3,500kg load towing ability

Aftermarket:

Good tyres
Recovery points
Winch bar
UHF

Originally Posted by Beckford

Out of the box;

Good clearance
Good departure and approach angles
Solid Axles
Light
Low range
Low gearing (6 speed)
Centre diff lock
Traction Control
Good vision
Torque / power
Gearing matches engine
Long legs 10L / 100km (diesel)
1,000kg payload
250kg ball weight / 3,500kg load towing ability

Aftermarket:

Good tyres
Recovery points
Winch bar
UHF

Good list...

So why the "solid axle" bit?

Everything else screams capable long range tourer..

The solid axle screams legacy handling.

Unfortunately (sic), on almost every hard trip I've been on a Playdo or Cruiser walks through the same terrain.


"Where the Desert meets the Sea"
'Did I mention some great 4WDriving is just 5 minutes from home?'

Originally Posted by B92 8NW

Perhaps for some, but there's no way I'd say my own D1 is one car for every job. I've built mine for off road and its approaching a point where I will need to buy a normal car soon and reserve the Disco for 4wding.

It's lifted so it's no good for underground or multi storey carparks.
It's got Centipedes on it so handles like crap on tarmac, especially when wet.
The tyres are probably too large for the factory gearing, it gets 14.5 to the hundred and needs a boot load and a half to get moving.
It certainly isn't the vehicle if you need to impress anyone. Have had to chauffeur an international airline executive worth millions complete with wet carpets from smelly Kinglake water. Way to market oneself as a complete bogan.

Sure you can set a vehicle up to be jack of all trades, but it wouldn't be a master of offroading then

Very much like mine, the other half hates driving it (phew) it's really not practical in the city for the same reasons, even with every thing I have done to it there is still heaps more I will eventually for it's off road capabilities. A Disco series I is really to small for a good tourer although I have and will again, what I will eventually end up with is an off roader that is capable of being driven on the bituman and now that I have a new job with a car supplied by work - a commuter as well.

My ultimate tourer / off road 4wd would be a decked out with all the fruit OKA pop top (when I win lotto)

What makes my D2 capable, for me, is that it achieves so many things.

As we all have to work, it is a great daily driver to get me to work and back.
Easy to drive around suburbs and into city.
Easy for wife to drive.
Good fuel economy.
Comfort.
Can easily tow camper, to get away.
Can easily tow my 2.5 ton trailer with Mini Loader.
Has great off road ability.
With tyres and a lift, better off road ability.
Am able to sit in it all day and travel across country, comfortably if needed.

No doubt theres a few more things, i'll remember later, but it's a bit like a Swiss Army knife for me.
A great multi-tool, that does everything I want.

Greg