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My buddies want to go on a camping trip to Laurel Lakes, CA (near Mammoth) which is supposed to be around a 4.5 mile OHV trail and fairly challenging (takes about 90 minutes). They have gone before I got my Defender, but they have modified off-road trucks (lifted suspension, aftermarket wheels, All Terrain tires, etc) and they all agree that it's not for the faint of heart. We're planning to go in a couple months, but wanted to check if anyone here has had any experience with their Defenders on this trail and get some feedback to see if I can make it.
For reference, I'm on a stock P300 (4 cylinder) with stock suspension (non-air) and the stock 20" Goodyear Wrangler "All Terrain" tires. I'm watching a few videos of the trail on YouTube and it's extremely narrow with rough/rocky/loose terrain. My concerns are as follows:
Stock tires - Although it says "All Terrain" I've seen reviews on this forum that the stock Land Rover specific Goodyear Wrangler tires aren't that great for off-roading. However, I've gone mild off-roading with them and they seem to be perfectly fine. Wondering if I should upgrade to some K03's or something before the trip.
Stock 20" Wheels - We most likely have to air down which is not ideal for me given that I have 20" wheels. Feel like this will reduce my clearance along with added risk of scraping my wheels in exchange for a less bumpy ride.
Non Air-Suspension - Seems like there are some area with large rocks to navigate over (can't go around due to the narrow trail and cliff). Hoping that the lack of air suspension won't create situations where I'm scraping the plates/undercarriage.
I cannot vouch for one without the air suspension, however, I think you will be fine. I know the ones with the air suspension will have no issues. You can always stop and go back if the terrain becomes too risky for your Defender.
I looked up that trail, and I wouldn't attempt it on the OEM Wrangler Adventures. The sidewalls are incredibly weak, and really more of a slightly more aggressive all-season. If I were you, I'd get the KO3 before attempting the trail.
JLR doesn't recommend airing down on low profile tires. Sand is a different story, but the folks I spoke to at the LR Experience Centers at the Biltmore in Asheville, NC and at the factory in Solihull, UK all claimed there was no benefit of airing down with anything larger than 19" wheels.
Other big issue is the coils - the stock coil springs offer virtually no articulation. That (along with adjustable ride height & adaptive dampers) is one of the main benefits of the air suspension. Sarek makes aftermarket coils that are more heavy-duty, offer substantially improved articulation, more ground clearance all while maintaining the factory ride quality. Also something that I would look into if I were you.
I don't understand or believe the assertion that coils have "virtually no articulation." LR designed the two setups to be approximately equal. The coils ride slightly higher than the stock-height air suspension, and the air suspension has considerably less articulation in one direction when at "off road" height, and so on. But those are details - the two setups should do about equally well.
That trail looks well-traveled (meaning lots and lots of people with a lesser vehicle than yours have gone through it) and not overly challenging. However, I certainly agree that the tires are your truck's weak point. Still, you should be OK with the caveat that if you do bust a tire, it's going to be time to bail, since busting a second one will bring much more trouble. Don't air down - that will expose your sidewalls more, and it doesn't look necessary on that trail anyway.
Get stuck in and have fun with your mates. You'll be grand. Trail looks tremendous.
Practice changing a wheel or two in the driveway. Stock Defenders are very very capable. The one big restriction on their prowess is the horrendous factory tires. They're a highway tire in all but name.
Goodyear Adventure. The clue's in the name. Don't air down below 30-35psi on these weak-as-pi$$ low-profile sidewalls on 20" rims without expecting a pinch flat.
Before I got good tires I did have to pull the chord and bail out on some trails. The risk of punctures was too high. I was solo and with kids in the car so a different set of concerns.
I don't understand or believe the assertion that coils have "virtually no articulation." LR designed the two setups to be approximately equal. The coils ride slightly higher than the stock-height air suspension, and the air suspension has considerably less articulation in one direction when at "off road" height, and so on. But those are details - the two setups should do about equally well.
That trail looks well-traveled (meaning lots and lots of people with a lesser vehicle than yours have gone through it) and not overly challenging. However, I certainly agree that the tires are your truck's weak point. Still, you should be OK with the caveat that if you do bust a tire, it's going to be time to bail, since busting a second one will bring much more trouble. Don't air down - that will expose your sidewalls more, and it doesn't look necessary on that trail anyway.
LR air suspension is cross-linked, allowing the air suspension to mimic a solid axle - when one side goes up, the other goes down. That's how they've been doing it for decades. The air suspension has 20" of articulation vs 12" for the coils.
Sarek is respected here, of course, and I took advice from him too, but he wants to sell upgrades, which necessitates the proverbial "grain of salt."
It remains false and ridiculous to claim that coils have "virtually no articulation" or to imply that someone's vehicle isn't up to being taken off road because it has coils. I think many people here with coils, like myself, would firmly disagree.
I took my 110 on coils, 18” wheels and OEM GY Adventures on challenging rocky trails in a Pennsylvania off road park. Aired down to 18 psi. Came back a few months later and did it again. On the second trip, our guide took us on a Jeep “badge of honor” trail.
The tires were fine on rocky terrain. Maybe I got lucky with no flats or punctured sidewalls, but they weren’t as awful as people here keep saying.
My limiting factor was ground clearance; by the second trip I had installed rock sliders. But even at stock height, I was keeping up with the stock Rubicons. I just scraped a little more than they did.
I don’t know this particular trail in CA, but the stock springs and tires are very capable.
There are lots of YouTube videos of the trail (Rausch Creek Trail 11); here’s one that shows the articulation it requires.
I have a cabin in mammoth lakes, and have done Laurel maybe 9 times in my life, 3x in a Defender 110.
I have even done it in a Range Rover Sport with no lockers and terrain response only!
You can and will make it, but the risk of getting stuck or damaging a tire is also real.
RE: tires - No, you do not need new tires just to do this trail, and I have done it successfully on the OEM wranglers. You MAY damage a sidewall if you are inexperienced. I wouldn’t air down below 37 psi if you’re on the Goodyears, and if you ask LR they’d tell you not to air down period. My sport made it, your defender will too Defender when it was still on Goodyear Wrangler doing the trail. Deep ruts that year but the D110 made it just the same.
I have also popped a tire up there a few years back (Toyo AT II), but sounds like you’ll be with buddies so installing a spare is part of the fun.
Definitely get the KO3! But only if you plan to offroad the rig a lot more often. Don’t buy new tires just for Laurel.
Laurel is one of the most peaceful, scenic place I have seen. Respect the trail and appreciate her natural beauty.
the initial hill climb will be the most challenging section, with rocks and some years deep ruts, and there is also a nasty final switchback that requires a 3 point turn on sharp rocks. on the return trip, there is a steep initial hill with a lot of sharp rocks as well. Gravity will then be on your side on the journey home.
Laurel Lakes, CA - Can a stock Defender make it?
