4x4 getting muddy show us your pics (MERGED THREAD)

[Jim Leach]

North Africa, 2001:

http://drivetheglobe.com/vintageroversacrossafrica/

[cafe latte]

Wow Jim you have been a few places in your Landy .My only Landy experience is a diesel series and its original petrol engine. Both motors off road are great as in low first and the motor just ticking over I am sure it would climb a wall! I took the pertol out as here in the wet season just around the property it spends all its day creek crossing and on a number of occasions I was left stranded with wet electrics. The diesel motor IMO if you use it on a property as I do is fine, but it has to be the slowest most noisy engine ever made , but it does perform well in the muddy stuff. I have a few Landy gripes though starting with the tiny franky rubbish clutch plate the series have, there must be an aftermarket one that does a better job. If you cross a creek and park up soon after your clutch WILL be stuck on in the morning and freeing it can break the rivits. Ask me how I know this . The starter too does not like getting wet neither does the tiny alternator, again there has to be better after market. the 2,25 motor though dispite its consumption is actually a tough unit and really only demands oil changes. Also the transmission and transfere seem to never give any problems, but the back axle is hated here in Aus and many of the old blokes will tell stories of having half shafts and other axle spare parts behind the seat as they failed so often. All the same part of this was driver error too IMO. Yes the rear axle is a bit weaker than it could be, but all too often off roading here in Aus I have seen guys on very rocky tracks using shere momentum to get to the top instead of picking a route and going slow. Quickly loosing traction and then the tyre grabbing a rock is the best way to smash a diff IMO and dispite all I have heard here in Aus my Landys diff is fine after going through some VERY rough country.. Fingers crossed
One of the reasons Landys are not more popular here IMO is the cost of parts for them here. I have a contact in the UK and I order what can be posted as what is just a few pounds in the UK from suppliers in Aus can be 10 times more.
Love my Toyotas and my Landy, but you do get to know Land Rovers more intimatly when you own one than you do a Toyota Still getting oily is part of the fun... Apparently
Regards
CL

[satanfriendly]

M & S tires

Well, I didn't know Marks and Spencers made tyres. You live and learn

[timspell]

I did tons of offroad stuff back in the day.

I was with the U.S. Camel Trophy team during the 1994 Argentina,Paraguay & Chile cross-continent competition. We drove Land Rover Discoverys.

We practiced in Grand Junction, Colorado, and near Istanbul, Turkey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clbXizfDdvA

I returned with Jeep a couple of years later and ran a portion of the South American route.

I did two 4x4 trips in Iceland -- drove a Mercedes GL Class on one and a Land Rover Freelander on a glacier trip. I also did a Land Rover lightweight trip in Guatemala.

I've driven 4x4 trails throughout the U.S. and Canada (ice driving in Quebec), including following the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska.

[cafe latte]

I did tons of offroad stuff back in the day.

I was with the U.S. Camel Trophy team during the 1994 Argentina,Paraguay & Chile cross-continent competition. We drove Land Rover Discoverys.

We practiced in Grand Junction, Colorado, and near Istanbul, Turkey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clbXizfDdvA

I returned with Jeep a couple of years later and ran a portion of the South American route.

I did two 4x4 trips in Iceland -- drove a Mercedes GL Class on one and a Land Rover Freelander on a glacier trip. I also did a Land Rover lightweight trip in Guatemala.

I've driven 4x4 trails throughout the U.S. and Canada (ice driving in Quebec), including following the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska.

Not much wrong with Discos. My friend has a series one Disco diesel which he had from new. He recently moved to a 4 acre block, but before he lived with his missus on a rather romote farm and the track to the farm was rather a challenge even when you were used to it and almost impassible when it was wet which it often was with a mix of clay and rocky climbs. When the river was in flood I have seen him pass with water over the door handles. The only damamge this wading ever did was once when he did it with the aircon on which bent the blades of the aircon cooling fan into the rad damamging the core. Considering the bashing it got every day getting to and from his house and its 250,000km it is still in great shape.
Regards
CL

[Jim Leach]

Wow Jim you have been a few places in your Landy

I started out just mud slugging in the nice, narrow trails of New England but then decided to use the truck for it's true purpose: Expedition.

My only Landy experience is a diesel series and its original petrol engine. Both motors off road are great as in low first and the motor just ticking over I am sure it would climb a wall!

I have a neat story... I was on a power line trail, in new Hampshire I think (with my old '71 series II-A that later went to Africa) and there were a lot of jeeps on the trail. Heavily modified jeeps. Jeeps with 327 cu. in Corvette motors in them... With broken axles. Boy, they sure sounded good full throttle, three tires smoking (locked in the rear) going up a rock face when all of a sudden "BANG" and the (oversize) front tire is spinning off into the woods. Once a second V-8 powered jeep did the same (in the same place) you just had to laugh. Then I come along, in my series, idling in first gear 'tick-tick-tick-tick' looking out the window at these guys looking back at my truck as if it had descended from the alien mother ship before their eyes. "whad'ya got in there?" they ask. "Nothing. It's bone stock." 'tick-tick-tick-tick' as I strolled by...

I took the pertol out as here in the wet season just around the property it spends all its day creek crossing and on a number of occasions I was left stranded with wet electrics. The diesel motor IMO if you use it on a property as I do is fine, but it has to be the slowest most noisy engine ever made

(however, excellent for insect control)

, but it does perform well in the muddy stuff. I have a few Landy gripes though starting with the tiny franky rubbish clutch plate the series have, there must be an aftermarket one that does a better job. If you cross a creek and park up soon after your clutch WILL be stuck on in the morning and freeing it can break the rivits. Ask me how I know this .

You must install the wading plug before wading. They thought of that a LONG time ago... Still in use on my 300Tdi 110.

The starter too does not like getting wet neither does the tiny alternator, again there has to be better after market.

Mean Green starter will work forever; alternator should be converted to GM 1-wire alternator and mounted up above the intake manifold, but even mounted low, it holds up better than the brushes and bushings of the original generator...

the 2,25 motor though dispite its consumption is actually a tough unit and really only demands oil changes. Also the transmission and transfere seem to never give any problems, but the back axle is hated here in Aus and many of the old blokes will tell stories of having half shafts and other axle spare parts behind the seat as they failed so often.

They break half-shafts like old ladies break hips. Convert to a 109 Salisbury axle (which will never break) or go to one-piece axles. A few vendors sell them in the US now (I tested prototypes from Great Basin Rovers in North Africa and broke a ring gear in stead)

All the same part of this was driver error too IMO. Yes the rear axle is a bit weaker than it could be, but all too often off roading here in Aus I have seen guys on very rocky tracks using shere momentum to get to the top instead of picking a route and going slow. Quickly loosing traction and then the tyre grabbing a rock is the best way to smash a diff IMO and dispite all I have heard here in Aus my Landys diff is fine after going through some VERY rough country.. Fingers crossed

Slow and steady wins the race, especially off-road...

One of the reasons Landys are not more popular here IMO is the cost of parts for them here. I have a contact in the UK and I order what can be posted as what is just a few pounds in the UK from suppliers in Aus can be 10 times more.

If it is 10X more, you should look to the US for parts. I get everything from Rovers North in Vermont, and they will ship globally (they supported us in North Africa!) and are Land Rover Genuine parts suppliers. Ask for Les if you call, and tell him Jim Leach sent you!

Love my Toyotas and my Landy, but you do get to know Land Rovers more intimatly when you own one than you do a Toyota Still getting oily is part of the fun... Apparently
Regards
CL

I try to stay clean, and only get oily when I want to get oily. That requires a big commitment in up-keep that many simply do not do. A well tuned land rover will go anywhere, and a poorly maintained one will be hard pressed to make it down the drive way.

[Jim Leach]

I did tons of offroad stuff back in the day.

I was with the U.S. Camel Trophy team during the 1994 Argentina,Paraguay & Chile cross-continent competition. We drove Land Rover Discoverys.

We practiced in Grand Junction, Colorado, and near Istanbul, Turkey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clbXizfDdvA

I returned with Jeep a couple of years later and ran a portion of the South American route.

I did two 4x4 trips in Iceland -- drove a Mercedes GL Class on one and a Land Rover Freelander on a glacier trip. I also did a Land Rover lightweight trip in Guatemala.

I've driven 4x4 trails throughout the U.S. and Canada (ice driving in Quebec), including following the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska.

Nice Tim!

Do you know Jim Sweet? He is a resident of CT too (last I knew) and was working for Land Rover doing driving schools etc. He was a member of the same club I was in (Yankee Rovers) that is now defunct. He is a really great guy, and I'm gld to have met him. I suspect all the chosen members of the teams would have a similar disposition.

Great stuff. Enjoy the Vinyl!

[timspell]

Yes Jim,

I remember meeting Jim, he was paired with Daphane Greene. I visited the team during his competition -- Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. He is a nice guy. A special temperament is required to participate in those events.

(Looks like you have some great adventure stories to tell, as well.)

-------------

cafe latte -- yes, it was amazing how much of a licking the Discoverys could take. Formidable offroad machines, but a bit quirky in some ways.

[Jim Leach]

I was doing articles and photography for Land rover Monthly a few years back, writing about our adventures.

Then they decided to not pay me several thousand dollars they owe me, and I stopped submitting any articles...

[timspell]

I was doing articles and photography for Land rover Monthly a few years back, writing about our adventures.

Then they decided to not pay me several thousand dollars they owe me, and I stopped submitting any articles...

We're basically in the same business -- been there with the nonpayment.

[Jim Leach]

For LRM, or another magazine? I ask because I know another shooter in Canada who was similarly screwed by LRM...

I did some work for Land Rover Lifestyle as well (issue one contents photo and issue two article on a collector here in CT). Then they decided all of a sudden they were too good for me??? That was strange. Doug Evilsizor is the editor's name (and it seems to fit).

[timspell]

It was another outfit that started up with great promise and then fizzled. Back in the day I was writing the LR stuff for Road & Track Open Road.

[Jim Leach]

OK. I was just checking as it seems like the stuff of class action with LRM...

All the contacts I had there have left due to their "management methods"...

[robgil]

This is my old bus. 1985 LR Ninety. Rebuilt onto a new chassis 5 or 6 years ago with the intention of going to Africa but after two trips to Greece and a baby we changed our minds, well , one of us did and it wasnt me.
It was built for purpose and not for comfort using mostly military parts, still has the 19J td (first version) engine that hasnt self destructed yet, I simply hose it out when it gets too dirty inside and lets not mention the heater...

















And what do you do when you break down 100's of miles from home?
Thats right , put the kettle on.









It's now a soft top and used for pottering around the Suffolk countryside.

One day it will be off on another adventure, I just have to find some like minded people stupid enough to come with me.