Musings...

[Houm_WA]

I was at Discount Tires yesterday getting the Coopers taken off and the Michelins bolted back on after a trail run this weekend. The young man who did the swap for me asked me why I chose this particular rig as my offroading vehicle as opposed to an older, beat up one. I have to admit that after the wash 'n polish I put on the LR3 on Sunday it was looking more beauty than beast, but I still found his question interesting. I've been thinking about it for a while.

Here it is...I bought the LR3 because I wanted a vehicle that could do anything and everything I wanted to do. I had intentions of taking out, so I wanted the capability, but I didn't expect that I'd get to a point where I go out and hit the trails 6 times a year and buy specific tires for it and some recovery gear and all that. I didn't anticipate this becoming such a regular hobby.

Has this happened to anyone else? How many of you take your LR3s offroad?....and I mean stuff that the ordinary SUV cannot do...

 

[toddjb122]

... How many of you take your LR3s offroad?....and I mean stuff that the ordinary SUV cannot do...

I don't. Want to, the opportunity just has not presented itself. My original dealer (Rockville Landrover) used to have sponsored trail rides, but when they were sold the new dealership stopped offering these.

For me its just sand, snow and mud. Nothing too crazy, just enough to get it filthy.

 

[codemonkey]

I used to have the beater Jeep, a '97 Cherokee. I wouldn't call it a dedicated trail machine, as it was in nice shape, not massively built up but had 31's on it. It was also intended as my winter daily driver (with dedicated snows for winter), though that didn't always work out.

I also have an '06 SLK280, as a summer fun convertible. But it turns out, with snow tires that's a kickass winter car - as long as the snow is not too deep. Part of this is due to ABS, traction control, stability control, and the comfort issues of heated seats, air scarf, etc. I found that if there was less than 5 inches of snow, or it was mostly ice, I'd take the SLK's comfort + traction features over the Jeep pretty much every time.

Also throw in that I took the Jeep out to Moab (about 6 hours from here) several times a year. The thrum of the tires, the lack of cruise control, lack of good space if I have a passenger or two, made the Jeep less than ideal for long trips that often go to offroad destinations.

So, I started looking for a vehicle that could do it all, with style and comfort - offroad, winter snow, everything. The LR3 fit the bill nicely, to say the least, with the air suspension and offroad traction modes being the clincher. I started looking at new, and $55k or so was just too much to swallow for something that I knew I would beat up. I even briefly considered the P38 and DII, but you give up too much of the technology that sold me.

The used CPO LR3 is what ended up making it for me - security of a decent warranty for a while, plus low price so I wouldn't feel bad beating it up. I have many pinstripes, and if I had bought new (or leased!) I'm sure I would have had a coronary after the first few. Now I'm getting used to them.

 

[Houm_WA]

I bought mine new and wouldn't have had the stomach for the pinstripes back then. The time (I've had it 3 years now) and the advent of Zaino in my life have made them less of a big deal.

When I see older Discos that people use as trail rigs (say 6-10 years old) I know that that is where my LR3 is going...that's where I see it in 4 ro 5 years. So, right now it's just evolving.

I think that 2 elements have played a major part in my off-roading hobby:

1. Going to the LR Experience driving school and learning that you can negotiate a trail without beating the hell out of your rig. My only previous experience was in high school with old beater 4x4s where the technique was all throttle and no gameplan.

2. Finding a local club to wheel with. This is major for developing experience safely and for finding trails in the area. Todd, if you really want to hit some trails, find a club around your area.

 

[Houm_WA]

Monkey, a few more questions:

When was the last time you drove out to Moab?

Ever taken your LR3 out there?

Is Lion's Back truly shut down as reports have indicated? ...not that I doubt the validity of the reports, but I haven't heard a recent one.

 

[geoaustin]

When I went to Moab last fall (November ish), Lions Back was indeed closed. Can still do the short, but fun baby lions back or whatever that is called.

 

[Houm_WA]

Simba instead of Mufasa? I guess that will have to do...

 

[duckdive]

I

Has this happened to anyone else? How many of you take your LR3s offroad?....and I mean stuff that the ordinary SUV cannot do...

I think that is the beauty of it. You are going on trails that regular SUVs can't. To me it became addicting
when I was pulling off trails I couldn't do in previous 4x4s. Like you, I average 6-7 trails annually and look forward to all of them. The Land Rover community is southern California affords a lot of events to choose from
so it's easy to rack up those trail points.

 

[goinsurfin]

1. Going to the LR Experience driving school and learning that you can negotiate a trail without beating the hell out of your rig. My only previous experience was in high school with old beater 4x4s where the technique was all throttle and no gameplan.

Houm_WA....Which LR experience driving school did you attend? In the states or UK? My wife and I are going to London next month and we signed up for the factory tour and LR experience drive. I'm really excited to take the LR3 through the testing grounds and through obstacles (deep water, serious mud, etc.) that I won't be doing in my LR3 for some time. Plus, the Land Rovers are all right hand drive and also the TdV6s.

 

[Houm_WA]

The UK experience will be interesting for sure!

I've done two schools; the one in Carmel, CA and the one in Quebec. Although the latter is more hyped, I enjoyed Carmel more. Quebec had a lot of rocks and such, but Carmel had more hill climbs, which I like.

I have to say that none of these schools really would do much for me at this point. I think the stuff we do on our trail runs is more technical and maybe even more "real" because you know it hasn't been driven a hundred times and/or maintained. However, I am glad I did the LR school because it's good to have that "feel" under your belt of what it's like to have a wheel off the ground or how to deal with steep ascents and downhills. I can honestly say that every time I've been (and it's up to 3 trips now) I've learned something new.