Off Road without HD opt

[JohnKel]

what advantages are gained by the HD option vs stock in off road capability ?? ( light to moderate)
TIA
John,the dummy in NE Ohio

 

[grommet]

I'm sure it's been covered; search. The optional rear locking differential can assist in extreme scenarios, but Terrain Response does quite well even without. I honestly didn't have any more trouble getting over terrain when I used an LR3 without it.

Off-road purists won't even call the LR3 an off-road vehicle without the rear-locker. Of course, many also think Terrain Response is a toy and everything should be manual.

 

[Nomad232]

My LR3 is without a rear locker and like Grommet described it gets by very well. But obviously it wasn't enough to keep me from starting my new project...www.disconomad.com.

 

[schafari]

For the very low cost of the HD option, it adds quite a bit. You get the rear locker and full size spare. Keep in mind once you sell the vehicle, you will typically get 1/2 the cost of a new option. So for a couple hundred bucks, you get the rear locker and a real spare tire. If you gouge or have a problem with one of your rims, you have a spare you can swap. Not to mention of course the extra tire.

I would go with the HD every time. You will know you don't have a rear locker when you have a problem with moving through loose, deep, etc., off-road scenarios. Not getting stuck is worth how much to you? If you never ever go off-road, perhaps not. (Why buy a LR then?)

From your question, sounds like you may be the type that would be kicking yourself if you didn't.

 

[grommet]

On the flip side, the vehicle is lighter without the rear-locker and full size wheel/tire?

 

[schafari]

The full size spare does weigh a lot! I just installed the towing kit wiring harness, and had to drop the spare tire. It was heavy. The owner's manual lists the weight of the options.

Full size spare = 17.6 lbs
Rear locker = 5.1 lbs

In a 6,000lb+ truck, not sure those extra 25lbs are going to take much off the track time.

 

[JohnKel]

Thanks Grommet, Nomad and Shafari for your input, it was quite helpfull and I appreciate it. May the New Year be "fault" free and all your projects go as planned.

Cheers
John in NE Ohio

 

[Tomasz]

No way!

Full size spare = 17.6 lbs

WOW! I believe that this is what the manual says, but there is NO WAY IN HELL that full size spare is 17.6 lbs! Think about it.

I bet $1,000 it is over 50 lbs. The small spare may be 17.6 lbs.