I need to haul some stuff. The Disco 1 is already full with 4 people and a dog. I need luggage for 4, a tent (not a rooftop tent, just ground tent), 4 sleeping bags and pads, two coolers with food, a Pelican case for optics, Jerry cans, 1 water, 1 fuel, camp stove, recovery kit, shovel, and jack.

I'm going to need a fullsize roof rack, not just a half basket. I've seen Wilderness for $890, Brownchurch for $969 and Hannibal Safari for $1600. I'm looking for the strongest, best featured, highest quality rack.

Does anyone have any recommendations from personal experience? Thanks

 

I know I am late to the party, but if you don't love it now, you won't ever. Sell it, so some one else can! I saved mine from the junkyard, I love it!

 

Yes, a SD (Safety Devices) rack, it was the rack used during the Camel Trophy and it is also the rack I have.
They are out of business so they are very hard to come by, but if you find one buy it.
You will also need a ladder, but those are cheap and can be had at any Rover supply place.
You will want to install a floor on your rack, what you use is up to you, I went totally cheap and I'm still very pleased with my choice.

 

I am sure he is not familar with Bill Burke or the motto: " As fast as necessary, As Slow as Possible."


Stick with your GM for the Crash and Bash School of Four Wheeling.

Sell the Rover, They are worth very Little really.

 

Independent vs solid axle off-road.


I've been off-roading and working Land Rovers for over 35 years, including grossly overloaded with green locust firewood towing a trailer loaded with even more up steep abandoned fire roads and have broken 1 axle, and that at a traffic light on tarmac.
I must be doing something wrong.

 

What's the point?

Keep the GM, sell the Rover or put a Badass GM Vortec engine in the Discovery..........

 

I'm not a real big off road guy... and still learning the capabilities of my Discovery. What I've learned so far is that I can beat the **** out of this thing and it doesn't break. I'm far from friendly to it, and it keeps on running. Of course, I take 'care' of it with regular maintenance and good parts, but I have yet to really experience the weaknesses of this truck that have been mentioned.

I've driven it on 900 mile road trips averaging 75-80mph (on 265/75s) with no issues. I've had it weighed down with 1500lbs of weight plates for my gym, bounced it off rocks, gave it hell getting up rocks/loose crap, taken 4 people off roading in it, pulled my brothers truck out of river silt dick deep and I've never had a problem. Well... my sunroofs leak.

I won't sit here and argue that its better than something else, but I will say it's stood up to me beating on it pretty well. I'm absolutely unafraid to take this thing out. I'll base my decision on experience. Weak this, weak that... whatever.

As for the GM: I had an 03 Yukon Denali. Complete beast. NEver really went 'off road' with it, but that thing was a monster. Only reason I got rid of it was the 60k crap going wrong with it. Intake manifold gaskets, brakes, fuel filter, etc.. it was JUST out of warranty and getting expensive... and I hated the color. LOL

 

It was already stated above, but again, this is discussion is dumb and pointless.

His mind is made up. Land Rover, especially the Discovery's don't hold a candle to GM trucks, we just have to accept it...

 

On the roll cage or the gutter mount "expedition" model? Doesn't really matter, they're both unobtainium at this point. How about something that is for sale?

 

If you read the accounts of CT, it was a lot of mud. The only amazing thing about CT, is they did it in station wagons. Trucks do great in the mud. Imagine the CT with GM or Ford mud trucks... oh wait, they didn't actually compete against anything.... sorry.

Look, either the Land Rover is good or it's just a car that evokes some kind of elite sentimental nuance. I thought it was good enough to buy one. If I keep it, it will be because it is a damn good 4x4 not because I want to play Camel Trophy with a winch and eight hooters.