Help me build up my D4 for touring!

**Bush_TM** · 13th June 2015, 07:10 PM

Hi guys,

I'm new to the LR world, after previously having owned Nissans and Toyotas (watched my 200 series that faithfully served me for 5 years being driven away today by a happy new owner!).

At this stage my new TDV6 is pretty much standard (with leather/tech pack) and the only thing I have added so far are some cheap mudguards off eBay! So now the real fun begins, and I am hoping that I might be able to get some first hand advice on some of the options that I am looking to add in the near future. The plan is to use the car for weekend get aways with the two kids (3 and 5) as well as a once-a-year extended trip. Probably look at doing a big outback trip in a few years when the kids will remember it.

1. Bullbar. My last two Toyotas (100 and 200 series) both had ARB bullbars, and although they look good, i wasn't too impressed with the quality of the last one that I had (a number of rusted out bolts and some rust starting on the supports, and it never went near the beach). I quite like the look of the ARB one for the D4, but it's not cheap! Has anyone got any first hand knowledge of the quality of ARB bars these days? Is there any other companies that I should be looking at?

2. Side steps/sliders. I want something that will look good, protect the paint from wayward rocks, and maybe be called upon to scrape over rocks if the situation ever needed it. The OEM ones aren't cheap, and theres probably better options out there...

3. Drawers/cargo barrier. I am drawn to the drift model as the price seems reasonable, and they generally get good reviews on quality.

4. Snorkel. I am guessing the after market ones do the same job, for half the cost of the OEM?

5. UHF. Where have people mounted the head unit? The best one I have seen is:

Land Rover Discovery 4 2013, GME TX3520 UHF CB Radio Installation | Maroochy Car Sound

The 'touch to talk' looks great and the mic location means there's no need to have a cord across the dash. I would even consider installing the head unit inside the 'top' glove box thingy so it is completely out of sight.

6. Dual Batteries. The one I had in the 200 series (installed by ARB ) was rubbish. Any recommendations? We want to run a 60L fridge off it, so would ideally have a solar input anderson plug for extended stays. It looks like there is a special spot reserved for it under the bonnet and that it can be installed with minimal rearranging of other components?

7. Tyres/Rims... I know there are a lot of posts about this, but is there one, simple recommended wheel size/distributor along with tyres? To be honest, I will probably just wear out the OEM tyres before looking to upgrade.

8. Electric brake controller. I have never had one of these fitted, but we are looking at getting a camping trailer (i.e. a camper trailer without the tent) and would like to get it with electric brakes. Any idea of cost etc? Any recommended brands (or ones to avoid!)?

Looking forward to hearing people's experiences, and I promise to post pics of the build as it happens

Cheers
Wayne

Tombie · 13th June 2015, 07:16 PM

Welcome Wayne.

ARB are fine.
APT Fabrications do a fantastic slider
Drifter draws are good gear several here run them
Safari is a Snorkel, factory is RAI but can be sealed
Get a UHF with the speaker and buttons on the mic
Dual/Triple battery - Drivesafe here (Traxide)
Rims - I'm working on some new 18s that will hopefully be quite affordable.
Red arc TowPro for brake controller

**Bush_TM** · 13th June 2015, 07:21 PM

Thanks Tombie!

The car is fantastic, loving driving it and really looking forward to putting the fun bits on.

Cheers
Wayne

**~Rich~** · 13th June 2015, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Bush_TM

Thanks Tombie!

The car is fantastic, loving driving it and really looking forward to putting the fun bits on.

Cheers
Wayne

Nicer than the 200?

( We are all bias here)

Congrats on the new choice, Tombie is correct on all above.
Only thing I can say is don't bother getting OEM Snorkel ( Raised Air Intake as standard it is not sealed)
Same with side steps too.

BTW get either a set of suspension lift rods or LLAMS - I prefer LLAMS as I use it everyday to drop my car lower enough to fit in my garage with my roof basket on.

**aus86inch** · 13th June 2015, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Tombie

Welcome Wayne.

ARB are fine.
APT Fabrications do a fantastic slider
Drifter draws are good gear several here run them
Safari is a Snorkel, factory is RAI but can be sealed
Get a UHF with the speaker and buttons on the mic
Dual/Triple battery - Drivesafe here (Traxide)
Rims - I'm working on some new 18s that will hopefully be quite affordable.
Red arc TowPro for brake controller

Hi Tombie
Are the 18" wheels as strong as the GOE/Compomotive ones, & when do you think availability will be.

**Bush_TM** · 13th June 2015, 08:06 PM

Thanks Rich. Can you explain to me what the lift rods do?

I took the 200 for one last spin before handing the keys over today. I couldn't believe how rough it was (sound and suspension). However, I did beef up the suspension and it had mud tires. But even the engine noise was sooooo much louder.

**~Rich~** · 13th June 2015, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Bush_TM

Thanks Rich. Can you explain to me what the lift rods do?

I took the 200 for one last spin before handing the keys over today. I couldn't believe how rough it was (sound and suspension). However, I did beef up the suspension and it had mud tires. But even the engine noise was sooooo much louder.

One major shortcoming of the D3/D4 and RRS is that at speeds over 40 kph if in Off Road height you will get a warning saying that suspension will drop if speed is not reduced to under 40 kph.
The vehicles automatically drop when the speed gets to 50 kph.
The advantage of Rods is to fool the computers of the air suspension that the car is lower than if really is, the computer lifts the car approx 50 mm thus giving off road height when standard height is selected.
You can have this height at any speed, perfect for roads with whoop de do's.

Green Oval Experience Land Rover training, Range Rover modifcation

LLAMS gives you even more height choices just by twisting a dial.
-20mm, +30mm & +50mm. ( even more choices with a mode switch too including recovery mode)
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/verandah/1...d3-d4-rrs.html

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...s-one-why.html

**LRD414** · 13th June 2015, 10:29 PM

Wayne,

There are heaps of good threads on all the things you're looking into that I have found extremely useful over the last few months. Here's a couple to get you started.

Drawers. I went with Drifta and can't recommend highly enough.
Uses the factory tie-down points to hold it in place and completely removable when you want an open boot or to use 3rd row seats.

The box on the left comes off if I want to put the fridge on the slide and there's a slide out table between the two drawers.

But also, here's a couple of threads that show the many ways people have set up excellent rear storage, including some great DIY versions.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...fitouts-2.html
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...er-system.html

UHF. I went with a GME unit and mount it to the centre cubby box only when using it. Again, there's many good set ups. Have a read of these.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...endations.html
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...t-up-d4-3.html

Dual Battery. I have a Traxide kit like many others. Can't recommend this highly enough either. As you suggest, fits very neatly in what looks like a space made for it

.... that's actually for a heater in Europe I think. One of the best DIY projects you'll do.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...ttery-kit.html

Wheels and Tyres. I am one of many with 18" Compomotive wheels from Green Oval Experience (Gordon). I am very happy with these and there is many threads on this subject.

18" provides better tyre selection than 19" but there is still a couple of reasonable choices in 19.
I have Bridgestone D697 LTs, which are highly regarded by people who've run them many k's on rough roads.
Tyres is a "big" topic but here's a couple of threads to get you going (both for 18 and 19).
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...s-r18s-lt.html
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...5-55-19-a.html
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...ims-tyres.html

Brake Controller. Red Arc Tow Pro has been excellent so far and a very neat installation with a hidden main unit. Have a look at the excellent EBC threads in the stickys section.

Oh and I have Llams too.

Anyway, welcome to LR World and the forum. You won't look back.

Cheers,
Scott

**Nomad9** · 14th June 2015, 09:27 AM

Hi Bush TM,
I have good experience with the Tekonsha P3 brake controller, great unit. Rims I use the RRS 18 rims with GG AT's on them, for me seems to be a good compromise with price and quality. I have had personal not so good experience with Coopers, the GFL warranty wasn't worth much when it came down to it.

ARB bars I haven't had a problem with them, the only thing is you can no longer get the headlights out (easily), you can do mods to make things easier, might be an idea to do the mods BEFORE installing the bulbar, lots of threads on this one.

If you go for the long range tank option, you'll either be doing a rear wheel carrier or a roof rack, if you go down this track watch the weight rating of the tyres, the back end with drawers, possibly a fridge, 100+ litres of fuel, rear wheel carrier, two wheels with tyres, plus all the "stuff" you put in the drawers. I ended up on Coopers because of the weight issue..........the rest is history really.

UHF radio I have the GME 80 ch unit with the controls on the mic, good unit in my opinion.

LLAMS great invention..........the air compressor works harder, the system is fantastic.

If you get a camper trailer with LED lights you'll need some device to stop the indicators flashing, again lots of threads on this one.

One good saying about accessories, "for every accessory you fit, you need (roughly)three more accessories to make it work properly or effectively", something to bare in mind.

Enjoy the new D4

**Redback** · 14th June 2015, 09:46 AM

Hi Wayne welcome to the forum, you can basically set your D4 up the same as your 200 series, although there are only a couple of things that I think you should use that a Land Rover specific, mainly because of the electrics in the car, and the Traxide dual battery system is one of those items.

Also the LLAMS electronic height adjustment system and GOE height adjusting rods are the other, these get around the suspension lowering at 50kph when, allowing you to travel at normal speeds on roads with a high centre hump.

Your only real issue will be rims, there are a couple of options, GOE Compomotive 18" rims, grinding a smidge off the front Disc calipers and fitting factory D3/4 alloys or aftermarket(this mod is not recommended) or waiting for Tombies rims.

Sliders, there are a few options here, I went with a forum members slider, he's in Brisbane, Brad is his name, he is Disco3QLD on the forum, shoot him a PM, you might be able to go to his fab shop to see them.

Anyway to give you an idea, here's what I did/added.

I started with;

2011 2,7l TDV6
Orkney Grey
7 seater
Full Leather interior in Ebony
E-Diff
Xenon Lights
Dual Zone A/C with Rear Air
LR factory Rear Ladder
LR factory roof tracks

Accessories added

Those in bold are Homemade by either me(Redback) or the missus(KAOS)

KAOS Lambswool seat covers Homemade
Rhino Rack Platform
Bob Burrage Side Awning Passenger side
Supapeg Rapid Wing Awning Drivers side
KAOS Rear Wheel Rubbish Bag
Redback Pole Carrier
Long Handle Shovel
Drifta D2D Drawers and Redback Fridge Slide
ARB Achor points
Factory D3 17" Alloys for offroad and touring
BFG KM2s LT245/70/17
Opposite Lock Bullbar
9500lb VRS Winch with Dyneema Rope
Safari Snorkle
GME 3540 UHF and 4.5Dbi GME Antenna
Lightforce HIDs
Kaymar Rear bar with twin carriers with
Redback Jerry Can Holder
Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch
Rijidij Rear work light, replacing the Kaymar item
90lt Outback Accessories Long Range tank(gravity feed)
Disco3QLD Rock Sliders
Llams Height adjustment System
Traxide USI 160 Winch Kit DBS
Optima 55AH deepcycle batteries
3 extra accessory sockets
Big Red Compressor fitted under the bonnet.

Hope this helps,

Baz.

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