Thread: 4WD ACTION - D3 Picture

Originally Posted by tunnelthug

Good on you! Saw the article in the mag too - how did you go in the rankings?

tunnelthug,

No, did not rank, mostly because I did not attempt all the events.

There were a couple of the tracks I walked and decided against, one was the hill climb which was getting pretty chopped up, it had been raining most of the week prior.

Being classed in the "plus category" because of the e-diff I would have been directed onto tuff track. I had watched a few lifted, double locked, big tyred trucks grinding sills, diffs, rear bumpers and rearly struggling on one of the rock ledges and as you can see my D3 is bog standard, so I thought, nah not for me.

A couple of the other tracks I would have been happy to do however that would have meant waiting in line for over an 1hr or so to do a 2 - 3 min loop, so I packed it in having completed 4 of the 7 tracks on the Saturday morning.

Also I had my 8 yr old son and one of his mates on board and the afternoon they we pretty bored with all the waiting around so we head off to Wombeyan Caves, did a self guided cave tour, grabbed an ice cream (a highlight for the kids) and headed home.

It is a good event and I was happy to have entered it and partially complete my first 4wd competition but it does involved a lot of waiting around and I would not rush back to do another.

The Nissan Patrol Club volunteers running the thing were great and it was generally well organised once I worked what to do.

George

I was not much of a fan of the eleckie gismos and thought the D3 was a bit poofy. but i got to play tail end in September last year with a D3 placed in front of me ( deliberately) the D3 had a new 4x4 driver ( i think it was his first trip) the only things i had to point out to him was to let the preceding vehicle finish an obstacle before entering and about wheel placement especially the rear wheel clipping protruding rocks. (low profile rubber) apart from that i was really ( REALY) impressed. on one decent which got a bit bumpy, the D3 had to go though all the bumps ( sheesh) I watched it get all unsettled then sort its self out again. Quite impressive.

Makes me wish there is an aftermarket traction control kit for the county

Originally Posted by 85 county

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I thought the D3 was a bit poofy. but i got to play tail end in September

Right , a bit of a "Broke Back Mountain" moment there 85 County !!!

I think the D3 gets scoffed at a bit by those in more "ruggard" Land Rover products because it is so refined, can be used as a luxury school run about by the better half during the week and many take it no further than a trip to the snow or farm on a couple of times a year.

But anyone who has actual got out and used the D3 properly or followed one in a more "ruggard" truck generally comes away very surprised at just how capable they really are.

Now I know there are something I would not try something in my D3 that others would be happy to have a crack at but I guess mine is bog standard (other than AT tyres), has no bar work etc so I do get a bit worried about ripping of plastic parts, but to date I have not found or even been close to the limit of what I think it is capable of.

Ok, back to checking on that fishing gear !!.

George

Sounds like a good day out - Wombeyan caves are beautiful, went through there a few years ago, then through Lime Burner's into Yerranderie. Was planning on going through to Jenolan, but Lime Burner's claimed one of my CV's, so decided to take the Oberon Stock Route out instead!

With all the waiting around, sounds like the event was quite popular - maybe they need to braoden the categories a but.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by tunnelthug

Sounds like a good day out - Wombeyan caves are beautiful, went through there a few years ago, then through Lime Burner's into Yerranderie. Was planning on going through to Jenolan, but Lime Burner's claimed one of my CV's, so decided to take the Oberon Stock Route out instead!

With all the waiting around, sounds like the event was quite popular - maybe they need to braoden the categories a but.

Cheers!

Sorry - woeful typing - 'broaden the categories a bit!

Saw this article and then the thread and have to offer my congratulations.

I particularly like the comments about your truck being close to stock. The inference being that the shiny topped D3 has “off road” capability delivered standard rather than an aftermarket option.

Also note that there is a D3 on page 302 of the same mag with the note that the owner “sold his Jeep to gain some reliability”. OMG.

This edition was a big step for these guys.

Well done and keep it up.

Great stuff George.. Thanks for the share... Yeah I have had my D3 airborne a few times and done silly stuff with it and have some broken plastics and severely dented undercarriage etc... No regrets but they are so capable you (read "me") tend to get a little carried away and make some damaging decisions.

No regrets mind you but to stay silly, I'd prefer a different truck I'm happy to break a little.

Thanks again for the share!