Thread: Any l494 owners go off-road?

Llams was developed because D3 exhaust pipes where it goes under the diff were getting destroyed on outback roads with the slightest of crowns and that the vehicle had to slow to 35 kph before off-road height could be selected when approaching dry creek beds. That Llams has found other uses on rocky fire-trails and city streets was not envisaged.

I still have my '84 RRC that I took up the Silver City Hwy in '96 to visit the Corner Country, which bit me badly and from which I hope never to recover. My L322 skims along my rutted gravel lane at 100 kph on +30 mm.

Originally Posted by Graeme

I still have my '84 RRC that I took up the Silver City Hwy in '96 to visit the Corner Country, which bit me badly and from which I hope never to recover. My L322 skims along my rutted gravel lane at 100 kph on +30 mm.

Hi Graeme, one thing I remember fondly of that vintage RRC was the ride comfort , I could go from the pavement onto gravel and it would seem like I was still driving on the pavement, so smooth. I would be interested in your take on that since you have both a RRC and a more recent air-sprung model . To me the later models still do not match that level of ride comfort on gravel available in that RRC ( apart from the pitchyness due to the 100" wheelbase) .... am I remembering through rose coloured glasses?
...Greg

I had 2 D2s and a D4 and was always trying to match the RRC's ride, giving up and opting for the L322 with CVDs. The CVDs surpass even the RRC's ride and control except for slow rough ruts where the CVDs being soft on slow movement and the cross-link valves being open causes the L322 to ride those ruts quite harshly.

I only just picked up my L494. I won't be going off-road for the sake of it but it will being going on the beach and be used to access 4WD only camping spots I use. There is also my mates farm which has the driveway from hell that I will tow my 2.8t caravan into.
I've got a transfer case and E-diff so I expect it to be quite capable. I just need to source some 20" rims to replace the 22s it came with. 275 55 20 should give me a fair bit more sidewall for better rock protection and a softer ride.

I use to have a 2014 SDV8 and did some off-roading in it including a week on Fraser Island, the car was great in the soft sand but the 22's didn't handle the inland tracks very well, the exposed tree roads caused one puncture and some deformation on 2 other tires

A friend came with us on a Simpson Desert and Hay River track trip in his SDV6 RRS a couple of years ago. Had 275/55/20 Pirelli Scorpion ATRs fitted. You can now get the same size in BFG ATs which would be even better. He had someone make a rack for the boot to mount fridge extra fuel and water. Also had Dual battery fitted by Sniegy at MLR. Had a small roof rack also which carried extra spare tyre and canvas bag with clothes etc in it. Main problem was not being able to remove rear seats which restricted how much he could carry. So most of the food and all of the recovery gear and other stuff were carried by me in my D4 and our mate in his 79 series trayback.
The RRS ate Big Red and was easily the most powerful and economical of the bunch. Funnily the only car that had it's bonnet up was the Landcruiser, the battery mount came loose!

RRS Hay River Track.jpg

Originally Posted by Geedublya

I only just picked up my L494. I won't be going off-road for the sake of it but it will being going on the beach and be used to access 4WD only camping spots I use. There is also my mates farm which has the driveway from hell that I will tow my 2.8t caravan into.
I've got a transfer case and E-diff so I expect it to be quite capable. I just need to source some 20" rims to replace the 22s it came with. 275 55 20 should give me a fair bit more sidewall for better rock protection and a softer ride.

I think we have the same model. The original Land Rover brochure says the AB was optionally available with 19" wheels... But everything I read online says 20" in the minimum due to the big brembos.

Originally Posted by AB SCV8

I use to have a 2014 SDV8 and did some off-roading in it including a week on Fraser Island, the car was great in the soft sand but the 22's didn't handle the inland tracks very well, the exposed tree roads caused one puncture and some deformation on 2 other tires

I see your ID is SCV8.. how does the new one compare to the SDV8?