Obviously everyone is going to have different preferences here, which is what I'm interested in to be honest, but if you were to take an LR3 on a long term "overlanding" trip down along the PanAmerican Highway, what mechanical/mods would you do while stateside before heading off? What "spare" items would you take with you?

Mechanically let's assume we're going relatively close to "stock" with 110k on the odo, will have bigger tires, a Gap IID reader/height adjuster, new control arms, new struts, a full size spare, and a new EAS compressor.

Wouldn't be "rock crawling" a but would definitely be doing as much beach exploring/sleeping, and dirt road adventures as possible. Likely going out to those locales for days/weeks at a time.

(and also for lifestyle stuff let's assume we might add an auxiliary battery, some external lights, a roof rack, awning, small solar panel, and then will debate whether to go with an RTT or a combo of interior/tent sleeping with the roof being for storage)

 

Keep it as stock as possible so that if you need parts they can be bought online from anywhere, accessories really depend on how self sufficient you intend to be.
A good sized aux battery with either a fixed panel or folding solar blanket for when you are parked, its a toss up between RTT or ground tent.
I think an RTT would be better as you dont need to set up anything and it leaves the cargo area free for other gear, and you can still add a fixed solar pane on top if you go for a hard shell version.

 

Agree with the Loanrangie. If it's overlanding with some off-road but nothing too technical, a good AT tire (KO3s or Duratracs) would be fine, something either stock size or 31" diameter. RTT would be ideal.

 

I've been wheeling for around 5 years now, and have done 2 overlanding trips. 10 days 1,000 miles through Oregon with 10 other LR's and 5 days 700 miles through Death Valley (highly recommend!).

On the Death Valley trip we didn't use any recovery gear nor any mods but the trails were relatively easy. But I always carry recovery gear and basic survival supplies. This includes more food and water than you think, first aid kit + knowing how to use it, a satellite texter/emergency communications, maps, and other various survival supplies like space blankets, fire starter, whistles, etc.

On the Oregon trip we encountered several mechanical failures and got myself stuck plenty of times. I got stuck in deep mud which required me to use my winch, and a pully just to get the 6,600lb vehicle out of it. Others tried to pull me out with tow straps but none were heavy enough to pull me out. A L405 suffered a leak from the front passenger airbag which caused a fault putting the vehicle on its bump stops. This was in the middle of a rocky trail and took 10 people over 15 hours across 2 days to move the vehicle 20 miles. 2 LR3s suffered from punctured tires, although it was due to driver error. My LR3 had a faulty injector that caused a severe misfire and required a tow.

On other various day/weekend trips I've encountered alternators dying, blown tire beads, dead batteries, etc. Can't remember every LR3 specific issues but this is what I see most often.


So heres what I'd recommend bringing or doing and why

• Winch. Arguably the second important thing you could add. It's saved my a$$ more times than I care to admit. It allows for self recovery, recover others, and move fallen debris such as trees. I believe there is a way to mount one on a stock bumper, but I have an ARB front bumper. Know how to use it safely! People have been injuried and killed when lines snap, or being behind vehicles that are supported by winches.
• Spare tire and a proper mount for it. I'd highly suggest a bigger tire than stock, and a AT or MT. I've always ran MTs but my application is different than yours. I HIGHLY suggest carrying the spare tire in any other way than the factory spot. If you run a ~31" or bigger tire, it won't fit in the spare tire slot unless you deflate it and use soap to squeeze it in. This is bad because you will have to inflate the tire before you use it, grime can get in and cause a bead to fail, and the exhaust pipes run right next to the tire which can heat cycle the tire. Not sure how big of a deal the heat cycle is, but something to note. I once went through 3 tires in 1 trip because of the spare tire location. I had gotten some sand and snow in one of the tires and it debeaded. I first had to take my gear out of the back just to lower the tire. I had deflated the tire to fit and had to air it back up. Except it wouldn't air up because it had gotten road grime in it and the bead wouldn't seal. The same thing happened when another person let me borrow their oversized spare. Another time I had blown a bead while being stuck in about 5ft of snow. To just access the spare tire the tire I would've had to dig out behind and underneath the back section of the car. Now in Central America I don't reckon you will run into snow. But mud is definitely a concern and trying to dig out mud sounds equally bad if not worse. I have a rear steel bumper with a tire carrier on it that solves this problem. Others have carried them on roof racks or inside the car.
• Spare alternator. I've never had to change one out, but others have. The alternator is mounted fairly low and some have had water get into it and kill it. These vehicles are finicky when it comes to voltages, so having a weak or dying one can cause other issues.
• Gap tool and KNOW HOW TO USE IT! Not just to read faults but learn how to control the air suspension with it. The L405 I mentioned earlier had a gap tool but none of us used it as effectively as we could. You can use its features such as test valves to manually inflate certain bags and hold them at that pressure, which would've raised 3 sides of the vehicle making it easier to hobble off the trail. There are plenty of tricks and useful features the tool has. I use the test valves to level out the car when using a RTT or sleeping in the back.
• Emergency supplies and as always KNOW HOW TO USE IT! I was in a rollover accident and a person I was with had a nasty gash in her head and we used the kit to patch her up a bit before the paramedics came. Hope you never have to use it but it can and will save someone's life.
• Jump pack. These are useful for self jumping, but if you have a second battery it does the same thing.
• Recovery gear. Depending on the type of terrain you plan on traversing, make sure you have the gear to get yourself or others out. I generally carry a tree strap, soft shackles, kinetic rope, and a winch pully. But CA's terrain and Central Americas terrain is different, so you may have to do more research.
• Do a through inspection of your vehicle. Replace any wear items now and check/replace major components as needed. I had a faulty injector which just happened to act up while on a trip, but not because of the trip. This happened with the original injectors at ~175,000 miles and when it was 18 years old. I haven't heard of others having this issue, but its a good example of the type of things to check.
• I'd install a fuel filter or make a plan if you encounter bad gas. I've had bad gas twice before, both of which I added some octane booster and filled it up with fresh gas when I could. Not sure what the fuel quality is like but it's something that can happen.
• Familiarize yourself with the vehicle. I'm guessing you know quite a bit about LR3s but never hurts to learn more. There's a workshop manual floating around somewhere on the forum. I have a version of it via one drive but I don't remember where I got it from.
• Go on some wheeling trips! A great way to get experience off-roading and try out mods/camping gear! Odds are there is a land rover club near you that does trips, and they will have more information too.

 

bring a spare LR3... or a spare cluster/alternator/brake switch/belt/ignition coil/ spark plug/fuel injector/front air strut. what ever is going to leave you stranded is not something you can plan for. its just going to happen, vehicle drivability that is.

 

^ I dunno, I have done several trips from Wisconsin to Montana and back putting over 3,000 miles each and the only failure I had was the EAS compressor. Which I was able to limp and get back without even touching any tools.


Anyway... it all comes down to maintenance and preventative maintenance. What are the items you do NOT want to fix on trail?

Suspension/wheels:
All the control arms will be nice to have done along with struts, assuming the struts you are getting are OEM. But how about wheel bearings? They often give signs before going but on a long trip they may not present an issue until well into it. Sway bar links, def get a new front and rear set. I actually went with Delphi front links, they are inexpensive and have held up really well. AC Delco... crap....

Engine:
Assuming the 4.4, not much can go wrong with them. I would certainly replace the coolant crossover tube/t-stat house with am OEM unit. Aftermarket are very hit or miss. There is a good and bad way to install these though when doing final tightening.... Also on the very top of the engine lays a small coolant hose that may or may not have a T fitting. This needs to be replaced with something metal and if you have not do it, should be done very soon. These fail and can cause quick overheating issues. The OEM water pumps last a long time but do not make for a fun trail repair, so might be worth tossing an AC Delco pump, OEM or some good brand unit in there. Atlantic British has a new brand of UK pump that is less than $100 and really good (the name escapes me right now). Remove belts, check pulleys, check bets, etc... The usual stuff. but for a trip there really is not much more to worry about on the engine.

Mods:
Winch is nice of course. My Badlands has been very abused and is holding up great. Make sure you seal the connectors for the winch remote where is plugs into the solenoid box. Snorkel is good. I have used mine A LOT. But there is also a "raised air intake" which is what the OEM option is. So make sure you know what you install because a RAI will not help you at all in deep water. Also the airbag itself is not water tight even with a snorkel, so keep crossing quick or seal the box better. AUX battery is probably one the best upgrades. You do not want to drain your starting battery. I run a smart solenoid and have an 80ah battery in the engine bay. It runs my water heater, fridge, diesel heater and all the other various bit. 32" tires are pushing things for max size and it will not fit in the spare storage.

Spares for the BIG trips:
I tend to bring a box on long trips I toss on my roof rack. It has:
Jug of coolant concentrate
Spare front sway bar link, spare rear
Outer tie rod end
Upper front ball joint
Lower front ball joint
Water pump
Quart engine oil
Brake fluid pint
Both belts
Alternator (cause I do water crossings a lot)
Brake lamps
Headlamp buls
Brake switch
T-stat
Tire repair kit w/new valves (really this is in the truck all the time actually)
If I am with other Rovers, I bring a front and rear wheel bearing and an EAS compressor.

The above is what I only bring on the big trips where I head into very, very remote places. Some items are critical, items that can stop you in place. Other things like headlamps are just a matter of being nice to have a spare with. So really go back to what can cripple you on the trail or what can be a hard part to get.

I know I am missing stuff. But just mesh what I have with others and keep making your own list of ideas. Ultimately the best thing you can bring is knowledge about the rig, how to do repairs, etc.

 

Love all of this, and stoked to see my thoughts are aligning with your actual experience.

I definitely have a jump pack, have used the GAP IID to do inflation tests, and good to know about the alternator.

I'm still super torn on doing a RTT with the inside for storage, vs. using the roof for storage and utilizing the interior for sleeping (while also bringing a good ground tent). The benefits as far as I can tell are that an RTT simplifies putting solar panels, the bedding is out of the way when you don't need it, and sleep comfort but obviously it means always rolling with an RTT even when it's not being slept in. But I also don't have a RTT yet so I'd have to buy one so, it's tempting to imagine using the roof for storage, then sleeping in the rig (which might also mean A/C if needed!) or in a ground tent but... that also sounds like a rougher night sleep/hanging out for months on end.

Good to hear on the winch because for all of the full time winch installations I see, I've seen maybe one ever actually being used in the last 20 years out in the wilderness. Granted not mud bogging or rock crawling, but I have always felt a curiosity as to if people actually use these that often or if they're more of a vanity accessory. Probably both. And to your point, probably smart to have ahead of time before hitting the road long term.

Thanks for the response.

 

On the RTT, the only way i would use one is if i rigged up a pulley system the lift it off when not being used.
I dont want to driving around with that big wind drag on all the time, i'm nearly done on construction of a 6m x 6m shed and i made it taller so that i could drive in with an RTT on and lift it off.

 

RTT or not, depends on needs. For me, this is not ideal because on long trips there are time when I have to take a nap at a wayside or store parking lot. In those cases I pack in a way that I can sleep inside, stealthily. My roof rack then stores my Dewalt IP68 rated boxes which have food supplies, cooking stuff, etc. I have several and may not use all, depends on the trip. Also on local trips I bring firewood which I would hate to store inside, messy. And yes it has a solar panel mounted which has been a really nice addition. If you get a RTT, you prob still have room for one tho. Inside I keep my sleeping stuff and maybe one case. my tools. But also it is just me and the dog. I sleep with a 2" air mattress with a 1" yoga mat on top that. Makes a great base for sleeping back that packs down easily. I tried memory foam and all sorts of stuff but this combo worked best for me.

Also inside I have a kitchen, fridge and two storage drawers in a module I made (one for common misc stuff like rain poncho, books, lights, tie downs, bug spray, etc. The other drawer for clothes and bathroom supplied. The second row is gone and in place is water tanks for cold and hot water as well as more storage, electors, etc. So you can get pretty crazy with any setup if you put your mind and time to it. But this works for me, may not work for all.

 

yeah this would be driving the panamerican highway long term for 9-18 months so there's not really a take on/take off scenario. But yeah it's really about comparing the "here's why I love the RTT in spite of it always being mounted to the roof" vs. "ground tent and interior sleeping is better."

Hard not to want to do a roof box for storage, then sleep inside but also, I'm more than willing to be swayed into the positives of an RTT so I was curious if LR folks specifically had feelings on each direction.