Thread: Series Land rover Chassis?

A Land Rover chassis is a box section, welded together from mild steel flat plate. It is designed not to flex.
Aaron

The advantage of swb in "real rough stuff" is the better breakover angle and that less axle articulation is usually required simply because the axles are closer together. (Actually, Series Landrovers have better articulation anyway on swb because on lwb (after Series 1) springs are set further out on the rear axle).

Actual chassis flexibility does not enter into it either with Landrovers or any other modern four wheel drive, although the Landrover chassis really is less flexible than some others (e.g. Landcruiser), even in these more flexible chassis the amount of axle articulation that is gained is negligible compared to the axle movement allowed by the springs.

John

If you want to experience chassis flex, try a 60cwt Blitz with no tray.
Aaron

Originally Posted by Aaron IIA

If you want to experience chassis flex, try a 60cwt Blitz with no tray.
Aaron

Most trucks rely on the tray or other body fitted to provide a lot of the rigidity, so you would see this with almost any truck when driven with no body over rough ground. Most cars and four wheel drives with separate chassis rely on the body to provide rigidity, and find this necessary, if only so that the doors will open and shut when parked on rough ground.

Series Landrovers and their derivatives differ in the sense that nearly all their rigidity is provided by the chassis, allowing flexible body options and keeping the centre of gravity low.

John

I disagree with the entire premise of the question. Sure swb vehicles have better breakover angles and turning circles, but ime lwb vehicles are inherently better offroad. However lwb vehicles often come with overly stiff springs, which gives a false impression of swb ability.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

but ime lwb vehicles are inherently better offroad. .

In the really heavy stuff?
Surely you jest!

I think LWB vs SWB is a horses for courses thing.... comes down to what you want to do and where you want to go more than the actual vehicle capabilities.

Originally Posted by debruiser

I think LWB vs SWB is a horses for courses thing.... comes down to what you want to do and where you want to go more than the actual vehicle capabilities.

Have to agree, SWB are better at sharp turns, but can fail in situations when rear axle traction is lost before front axle traction is gained and this is where the LWB are better than SWB. It often doesn't matter about the articulation, in fact articulation without traction is no better than a suspended wheel.

There is no perfect 4WD for all situations!