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Took a long roadtrip through CA’s Eastern Sierras including the most challenging offroading I’ve done in it yet, here are some results from the shakedown of the 23 V8
ON-road: It’s the king of the desert. It makes mincemeat of every Prius it passes. Long semi trains blocking the road? Just dip into the throttle and hang on.
A high point was highway 168 outside big pine. The Defender monstered the twisty track like a Porsche, but with real ground clearance and way better sound. Revelatory to hear the V8 scream and the tall boy hustle without much roll.
Headlights at night continue to be a weak point. However with that said, Land Rover have finally done a good job with the auto high beams with the latest update to the point where it reliably recognizes oncoming headlights and taillights ahead! I was impressed, and it’s cool to see the high beams focus slowly on the road ahead rather than flash on and off inelegantly like lesser brands AHB function.
Off-road: tackled a trail rated a 4/10 on Trails Offroad app for rock gardens, loose, rocky alpine ascents, and sharp switchbacks.
I was very pleased with the lockers in lo-range rock crawl, which made quick work of the climbs. No momentum needed, just cruised up slow and steady.
I am on the 255 width Goodyear Wrangler Adventures. Aired down to 30PSI for this climb (I have pinched-flat at 20 in the past)
With these higher PSIs, one rocky obstacle did stop my progress, but backing up and taking a slightly leftward line resolved the stoppage.
Also, I learned the lockers do NOT lock in reverse! Recommend you boys bear that in mind if you ever descend anything one- way… solved that pickle by doing a 2nd run with more momentum.
Overall if I were to do more aggressive offroading the unit could benefit from a harder core A/T, but undoubtedly at the cost of on-road noise. Considering the trail was dispatched with great alacrity, I will definitely wear this set out before considering changes.
Post trip wish list:
1. Passenger sunshade for the wife. Does anyone know of a good one?
2. Bike rack for the e-bikes. Is there a model that is hitch- mounted and comes to ground level so I don’t have to lift them (unlike the Thule model I used to have?)
4. Delete seatbelt chime (GAP tool time? 23s don’t work with the 10 seatbelt Easter egg)
6. Persistent psi display - when airing back up, I would love if the PSI display wouldn’t go away. Has anyone figured out how to keep this in place with GAP tool as a part of the Interactive Display? Activations guy, where u at?
7. Auxiliary lighting for dark roads - anyone know some nice aux lights that are very low profile? I don’t want to alter the look of the truck, but some hidden LEDs would help the weak high beams.
8. California Mode - a Pivi shortcut that automatically rolls down all 4 windows, retracts the sunshade, and opens the sunroof.
Overall, transcendent trip with the V8 110. Bravo. @the_insider we appreciate this vehicle.
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Auxiliary lighting for dark roads - anyone know some nice aux lights that are very low profile? I don’t want to alter the look of the truck, but some hidden LEDs would help the weak high beams.
My setup involved first research for 90mm or 3.5" Led Highbeams , the correct connectors for the wireloom.
Best to see this thread for pictures and details.
Thank you. I read your full post. So cool, you did amazing work with this! A few questions about what you chose, the Nolden NCC 90mm 3rd gen Led High Beams with position and indicator product.
1) where can these be purchased?
2) are these high beams and turn signals combined? For me, the ideal application would be a high beam supplement, as well as an amber fog light mode for trails. Is this possible?
3) are these Nolden units very bright? Do you have pictures of them in action/ illuminating the roadway?
Thank you. I read your full post. So cool, you did amazing work with this! A few questions about what you chose, the Nolden NCC 90mm 3rd gen Led High Beams with position and indicator product.
1) where can these be purchased?
2) are these high beams and turn signals combined? For me, the ideal application would be a high beam supplement, as well as an amber fog light mode for trails. Is this possible?
3) are these Nolden units very bright? Do you have pictures of them in action/ illuminating the roadway?
cheers and thanks for the information!
1. I did buy them in Poland, direct from the manufacturer OEIndustry https://oeindustry.com/produkty/lampy-przednie
2. I have to test that if the indicator will burn together with High Beam / update , did test the indicator with positive power, High Beam will not work than anymore.
3. Not real life pictures in the field by night at the moment, made one of the front with High Beam and fogs on.
Last edited by Defendit..; 11-02-2023 at 07:05 AM.
10-20-2023, 12:07 AM
Long road trip — on road and offroad shakedown
