Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 840
Salisbury Plain 26th January 2015
Some of you on here may have seen that I had planned a trip to the Plain yesterday.
It turns out its closer then expected and only took 1hr 40mins to get to from Warwick and that was cruising at a steady 65-70mph.
There was originally a group of 4 of us, 2x 90's and a D2. A second D2 (friend of a friend) joined us at the last minute as he was local and in the TA and "knew the plains like the back of his hand" and to be honnest he did.
The guy who took the lead was in a 90 with 2" lift and BFG KM2s.
It didnt start well, and the D3 struggled to get up a grassy slope, purely down to driver error and lost momentum. No rescue needed just a bit of an start.
Lots of mud, but also lots of traction as all routes we used had a good hard bed under the mud.
One D2 got stuck a couple of times, lack of tread on worn AT tyres and possiblybeing over bold. He lost his crash bar on the ground after being pulled out backwards.
The other D2 had both his rear airbags fail on him. Only 200m from a road, so crawled to the side and Greenflag recovered him and took him home.
The second 90 had issues with over heating and cuting out. Possible Thermostat issues.
So the old girl did me proud. She coped with everything even with a novice at the wheel. We had the usual jibes about here comes the computer and you dont need any skill to drive that. But seeing as she is the only really unmodified vehicle that made it through the day unscathed we can hold our heads high.
Notes from the trip. D3s really are big and heavy. This was the main issue with the bad start to the trip. See her next to a 90 and a D2 and she looked massive.
I scurted around some water as I didnt want to risk it. which leads me to a question. I know the wading depth is 700mm (or a metre) if you are particularly brave. How good are the door seals? Are they water tight? The 2 Deafeners went through some water, well one got out the other side the other had to reverse out. Both got water inside the cab. Can a D3 sit with is body in water without water getting in?
Thanks
SimonD3 HSE TDV6 Auto. Bonatti Grey.
Mods:
V8 Brake upgrade (front Only), Full height Luggage guard, Rubber mats all round, RLD spare wheel protector, Terra Firma Steering and Transmission guard, Smoooooth Nappa steering wheel, Clock on dash and Reverse home lights. National Luna split charge system, front and rear light guards, Danhag GSM (on loan), JE stage 1 remap... Zero money
Last edited by SWR on 28th Jan 2015 10:10 pm. Edited 1 time in total
26th Jan 2015 3:10 pm
doz
Member Since: 15 Jun 2014
Location: Southampton
Posts: 436
I love going over the plains. Last time I went I took the P38 rangie. She was faultless all day and never got stuck. I didn't need low ratio all day with the 4.6 eight banger up front. Was great We found the armies off road training area and of course we didn't go and play I must finish off the new gas conversion and get her out again.
26th Jan 2015 4:42 pm
John P
Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1283
The seals are very good, but not sure if you park in 700mm of water what will happen.
This is me out in Wales, and had no water leaks...
Click image to enlarge
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26th Jan 2015 5:20 pm
SWR
Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 840
Thanks John. I had her in some pretty deep water. Def over the bottom of the doors. You can see inside the door between the door and the body you can see where the dirty silty water has been. I too had no water inside the cabin. I just wondered if you got stuck/stopped whether the water would make its way in. Drying a cleaning the inside of a D3 isnt something I want to think about. D3 HSE TDV6 Auto. Bonatti Grey.
Mods:
V8 Brake upgrade (front Only), Full height Luggage guard, Rubber mats all round, RLD spare wheel protector, Terra Firma Steering and Transmission guard, Smoooooth Nappa steering wheel, Clock on dash and Reverse home lights. National Luna split charge system, front and rear light guards, Danhag GSM (on loan), JE stage 1 remap... Zero money
26th Jan 2015 6:36 pm
Kingmav66
Member Since: 20 Jul 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1349
It's not the door seals that will cause you problems, it's all of the electronics up behind the battery
The Plain is good. As you say, nearly all tracks are hard based.
Unless you're in a jacked up Defender, then steer well clear of the 'puddle' on the by-way next to the driver training area
27th Jan 2015 7:24 pm
SWR
Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 840
Thanks Kingmav,
My question was more based along the lines of water level below ECU and Battery box but above sills and door openings.
Where is the driver training area? Is that the village they used in top gear, for the boxster S and Merc test?
Cheers
SimonD3 HSE TDV6 Auto. Bonatti Grey.
Mods:
V8 Brake upgrade (front Only), Full height Luggage guard, Rubber mats all round, RLD spare wheel protector, Terra Firma Steering and Transmission guard, Smoooooth Nappa steering wheel, Clock on dash and Reverse home lights. National Luna split charge system, front and rear light guards, Danhag GSM (on loan), JE stage 1 remap... Zero money
27th Jan 2015 7:40 pm
doz
Member Since: 15 Jun 2014
Location: Southampton
Posts: 436
No, we were on the plans in my old Pajero and the army were putting on manoeuvres in the village. We were invited to come up and watch that was good fun. However it's not near the trainer driving area. And if I'm honest I'd need a good map or bettr still some one who knows where it is.
27th Jan 2015 8:02 pm
Kingmav66
Member Since: 20 Jul 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1349
Re the 'Top-Gear' village, that's Copehill Down, but all of the lanes in that area are closed until April
The driver training area is just outside Tidworth, lots of signs stating 'No Civilian Access'
It's where Clarkson was in a RRS and chased by a Challenger
I think I'm right in saying, that if you lowered the D3 in to a pool, it's more likely to float before the door seals leak.....
27th Jan 2015 8:06 pm
SWR
Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 840
A couple of photos of the event. Majority of photos of trip taken by me and therefore very few of me.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
D3 HSE TDV6 Auto. Bonatti Grey.
Mods:
V8 Brake upgrade (front Only), Full height Luggage guard, Rubber mats all round, RLD spare wheel protector, Terra Firma Steering and Transmission guard, Smoooooth Nappa steering wheel, Clock on dash and Reverse home lights. National Luna split charge system, front and rear light guards, Danhag GSM (on loan), JE stage 1 remap... Zero money
28th Jan 2015 10:12 pm
Kingmav66
Member Since: 20 Jul 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1349
Correct me if I'm wrong, but your 2nd pic looks awfully like the lane down to VA's crossing (very near Copehill Down aka German Village).......
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start.
I must finish off the new gas conversion and get her out again.
