Landrover discovery-equipping it!

<img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I just purchased a landrover dicovery-i was just wondering if any of you guys could give me any advice of equipping it for serious outdoor use!-For use in wildreness terrain!

Thanks
Mark [/color]

We had a forum member outfitting an older landrover for a trans Africa journey some time ago in the forums. I know there is a landrover club in G.B. that is very good with outfitting. I'd send you a SMLE, but Tony Blair might get upset with me <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

There was a thread here few months back about equipping a Landover for Africa travel. I personally do not own a Landover but in order to support American economy I ended up getting a Jeep Cherokee Sport (I gave my old Cherokee to my Dad) which I'm still working on in terms of skid plates and brush guards and rising the suspension. I also added a second spare inside. I believe that features I'm looking to upgrade in my car are pretty standard in Landover. I will suggest adding brush guards and depending on where you live maybe an outside winch. I'm in NYC so mounting a winch would be like throwing money away since it would get stolen in no time. In my old jeep I modified air intake system. With the new car now I heavily equipped the interior. I mounted a cb radio, under the seat I have an ax, foldable shovel, hand winch and 50 yards of tow rope. I have a water and spare fuel cans plus some emergency rations (which disappear quite often when my girlfriend gets hungry). I have a full med kit with big emphasis on spine and air way care/maintenance. I also have a basic set of tools and back up for my psk. I threw in couple of small sleeping bags that fit right under the seats. Most of my extra equipment is not visible from the outside (except water and fuel cans). Very nice thing that I bought from Cabellas are seat covers for dirty dog and muddy clothes and floor/cargo mats which are shaped like trays and collect water and dirt. Also my Garmin GPS is in there. Since things like stove is used only during camping I don’t mind keeping it in my car just in case.

My future upgrades include:
Mounting a heavier alternator
Mounting a winch with theft/temper proof screws
Mounting better light system besides the standard headlight and halogen combo.
Mounting second spare to the hood
Front skid plate
Making a secure compartment (which I had in my old Jeep) to keep my cameras and more valuable gear

Matt

Too bad about the situations for winches in NYC, because a winch is the thing I have used the most over the years when four wheeling. Real handy tool.

Polak

A link that maybe useful for you.

Regards
Burak
Istanbul

http://www.tuffyproducts.com/index.html

GET THE WINCH. don't let the animals decide what you want on your 4x4. once mounted burn a small weld bead where the nut and bolt threads exit. the mount will have to be cut off when you change it to another vehicle (like,in 10 years) but thats the point, so will the animals. Also-two spares are good, carry irons and patch/plug kits for serious tire repair. You need a good compressor, I carry a "truck air" model i found at K-mart, its great.
you're in NYC so a gun rack is out of the question.haha...(sorry). for your expensive stuff consider mounting, i.e. bolted to the floor, an ammo box-cleaned,painted, lined with fun fur-whatever, under the seat or in back to stash your GPS etc...
a high lift jack is very handy and has many uses, its also dangerous so learn how to use it.

Thanks guys i really appreciate all the advice and chris your senser of humor far supasses you!

Mark [color:"blue"] [/color]

The first thing you should do is discard the stock tires and get some real offroad tires "if" you intend to use it that way. Traction is what keeps you going forward. The tires on that truck from the factory are meant for navigating I-95.

You wouldnt go hiking in flip-flops, would you?

I might. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hi mbrodw,

Diesel Dave started a thread on June 10, 2002 that generated some interesting responses, some of which are appropriate to your question. It was titled OVERLAND TRIP.

Can't help ya there. But if you need a wheel upgrade, email me...some good friends of mine work for American Racing Equipment. I'll make sure they give you a good deal. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

John McIntire

Make sure you carry plenty of spares, I recently encountered a rover whos fuel line had split, the owner carryed no spares. I spent an hour trying to fix it, but couldn't. His Son had to come an pick him up.

Useful sources of information are the various LandRover mags. Get yourself down to WHSmiths and browse the shelves. As an added bonus a couple of them have articles with Ray Mears this month. I'm sure there must be several web resources, try this to start www.lrm.co.uk

Justin