Thread: Corrugated roads and Defender TD5.

From your description, it seems that the vehicle is shaking round a bit more than I would like on such a road surface!

The "hesitation" you are feeling may be due to lack of traction, preventing transfer of power to the ground, but, that said, I would expect the traction control light to be on under such circumstances.

Have you tried reducing your tyre pressures? This is esential for safe travel on corrugations, and will give a much better ride. 25psi(F) and 30psi® will be better than the usual 30psi(F) and 45psi® that one would mostly use on bitumen.

With these pressures I would recommend keeping to about 80Kph as a maximum speed.

Cheers,

Lionel

I've had the same problem...

I was up the back of wyong on some dirt roads, with a semi-trailer-petrol-tanker up my butt I could not get the defender over 70-80 k's max.... same thing, no matter how much gas I gave it it just would not go any faster and even then I really didn't want it to go faster as it felt kindof unsafe.

In any case, I got some guys to check out the suspension last week. The bushes have worn considerably (same set of shocks since new - 112000 k's) and need to be replaced,

On road it feels totally fine... I guess the coils give it a naturally soft feeling (...?).

Anyway, I've got to get those shocks replaced then I'll see what difference it makes... who knows, maybe nothing so then I'll just reduce tire pressure.

Scott

<span style="color:blue">have you guys tried it with the centre diff locked....?</span>

Originally posted by CraigE
Anyone had any unusual experiences over corrugated roads?

Traction control + tyre pressure. Once I had same effect on hard corrugated road. Went down to 28 psi (good ride pressure for BFG-265 M/T) all arownd from 40/44 psi and was happy. 80-90 kph no worries. A gear stick movement tells you about transmission vibration, another words the more movement the more vibration and more load on transmission and breaks.

Same effect has happen some times when I attack corrugated sand hills.

Ruslan.

By the sound of your discription, you had been traveling for some time when this happened, if so, your shocks will be the most likely answer, the shocks will gain heat as you travel, the longer you travel the hotter they will become, the shocks will cease to operate normally. they will fad and this powerless sensation will occure and be most noticed on corrigations. have your mechanic show you the worn bushs, at 112000 klms I would question this unless you do go offroad alot.

glen

Hi Craig
Im with Zook
Lock the CDL,Im sure what you are experiencing is the loss of traction front to rear.Im sure this will fix it,also look at the lower tyre pressures.
With our Trytoo I would regularly use Hi range 4wd going to visit my mate for a beer,a 50km round trip on the gravel.A totally different controlable vehicle on a road badly needing grading.
Andrew

Hi guys,
On my drive to work, (occaisionally via a badly corrugated road/track), I lock in the CDL and go for it. Been up to 120 klms on the straight bit no problems. Its also very stable with the CDL locked in. Total drive is only 8 mins from end to end though. (tough dogs and polyairs fitted).

Trev.

Yep, locking the CDL transforms the feel of the vehicle.