Member Since: 11 Jul 2011
Location: Wharfedale
Posts: 112
Essential equipment?
I'm just getting started doing some (hopefully) simple green lanes in my standard D4. No major off road challenges just some nice interesting proper tracks.
I don't want to be a complete idiot. What would be considered essential equipment to have in the car in case of unexpected difficulties?
6th Nov 2014 12:34 am
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
a mate following along behind...don't go alone
6th Nov 2014 1:42 am
LandRoverAnorak
Member Since: 06 Mar 2014
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1172
This is one of those things that it's very easy to get carried away with but, as a bare minimum, decent tyres, a suitably rated rope or strop and a couple of shackle with which to attach it to vehicles.
Oh, and as mentioned above, a mate in another vehicle.Darren
"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2486
No, no ...... its an excuse for more shiny things......... Christmas is coming you know........winch, ground anchor, mud tyres, 2nd spare wheel, tree sliders,, sand mats, spotlights, airjack, the list is endless....
Seriously - rope, shovel, 2 shackles and someone else in another 4x4 as above
6th Nov 2014 7:01 am
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9424
NEVER go on your own, did this once in my Series 2, then a 3 hr walk from farm to farm asking for help, all turned me own eventually, walked down a lane and saw a house with a series 1 parked there, needless to say he told me off before getting his tractor out to drive me back and pull me out
You can get stuck on the moist innocuous looking track?
+1 to all the kit mentioned above as well Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
1992 Land Rover Defender Camper
- Gone but not forgotten:
MY10 D4 GS
MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
MY08 Disco 3 SE manual in Buck Blue
1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
6th Nov 2014 8:39 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14386
Eyeballs and commonsense.
6th Nov 2014 8:45 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26774
+1 on the never walk alone advice.
Also, with the weight of the Disco, you must get a decent jack on board. The most likely problem you will encounter is a puncture. The standard jack is no good on soft ground. (its not much good on hard ground but thats another subject)
Other than that, a good safe tow strop, some bush cutters to clear any hedges/branches, small shovel, and an old towel to cover the grill if you encounter deep water. (The rad and intercooler are sods to clean out if you get debris in them) The old towel will also be useful to clean the lights and number plates afterwards.
Don't forget the Jetboil, cup, T bags, milk, OS maps (make sure you know where you are going).
6th Nov 2014 8:48 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
A roll of bin bags for dirty and wet kit.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
Definitely a good jack...on our recent trip to the Lakes,one of our party suffered a blowout puncture at a steep and awkward spot...it took a few of us to get the job done,highlighting the other point about not going alone
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
6th Nov 2014 9:18 am
A.J.M
Member Since: 31 Oct 2009
Location: Carluke
Posts: 2847
Click image to enlarge
My car. Plus how many of our group of 12 people were round to get it sorted.
It was lifted by a hi lift jack that hooked onto the rock and tree slider, it took 2 of us to work the handle to raise the car.
So yes. Never go out alone.
Also, remove the front and rear recovery point covers BEFORE going out. Nothing worse than trying to remove something that's covered in mud and you can't find all the clips.
Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated In loving memory of FA54WSK.
Rest well old friend, your work is done.
7th Nov 2014 1:05 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26774
Good point about the covers, also consider dropping the spare wheel from under the car and strapping it down in the boot. It might save you having problems getting it lowered on uneven ground.
7th Nov 2014 7:15 am
Wollemi
Member Since: 11 Jul 2011
Location: Wharfedale
Posts: 112
Some good helpful advice here, thanks.
Taking off towing covers and putting the spare in the boot sound sensible precautions.
So, I need to get a good jack - recommendations for what constitutes a "good jack?"
Is something like a waffle board useful for putting the jack on, or is a piece of wood OK?
I knew the rule about not going on your own which seem very sensible. Would you ever drive a track on your own if you'd driven it before? (I guess it depends upon the track?)
7th Nov 2014 10:48 am
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
I've been down a fair few tracks on my own before, just be sensible -
If it's particularly arduous, covered in water or very soft, walk it first.
Plan your route rather than bombing in.
Let someone know where you're going.
Take a phone.
Take supplies for if you are out for a while (food hot drinks etc),
Google Earth the farms near by so you don't end up walking aimlessly if you do need to find help.
Spade, waffle boards, carpet, rope/strop, small saw to help you get out of sticky bits.
OS Map of the area
If you can't take another vehicle, try to take a mate.
But try to take another vehicle 2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
7th Nov 2014 11:09 am
JonM
Member Since: 24 May 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1247
Another essential is planning.
You need to know where the lanes are and that they are legal to drive. You also want to know whether they are suitable for you and your vehicle e.g. are they very overgrown and scratchy, will you damage your vehicle (or trash the lane) if you attempt to drive them. Some lanes may look drivable on an OS map but have TRO's applied making them illegal to drive. Some lanes may look easy at the beginning but turn in to something nasty part way along.
Joining a club or group to benefit from their knowledge of the current state of the lanes can be helpful. MY2022 D5 HSE D300 - with extra nice bits added
MY2019 D5 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - sold to a dealer for a crazy price! - So good I bought another!
MY2012 D4 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - retired to a new home
7th Nov 2014 11:36 am
GSLRO
Member Since: 10 Sep 2008
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 1279
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eventually, walked down a lane and saw a house with a series 1 parked there, needless to say he told me off before getting his tractor out to drive me back and pull me out 
