Member Since: 17 Aug 2017
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 231
Salisbury Plain - Sat 9 Mar
First proper greenlane outing in the 'new' car this weekend. Took one of my boys on a day tour with 4x4 Adventure Tours on Salisbury Plain.
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A varied starting lineup - 3 Defenders, RRS, Jeep Wrangler, Disco 2, a Ford Ranger and us in our 05 manual.
The flags were up so impact area was out of bounds which was a shame but we still had a great time around the edges. 8 hours driving and 60 odd miles. Plenty of mud, ruts and water and some interesting lanes, one of which took a bite out of both me and the RRS. Luckily only a bit of trim so a bit of glue and some new clips and we will be sorted.
I live locally but it was good to be out in a group and see a few areas I had not been to before. Car didn't have any issues at all. Tow bars and diff's were gouging the ruts but we had no clearance problems and the TR worked a treat.
We lost one of the Defenders, the other (not the guides) had a snorkel that was not sealed so the air box filled up and the Ford Ranger got stuck a couple of times but he did have pretty much road tyres on. The Jeep did well. Overall a good day, and the sun was even shining
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Pitstop while the Defenders got fixed (water in the air boxes).
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Lost a bit on that last lane.
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And the co driver even helped clean it afterwards.
Member Since: 17 Jun 2018
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 11
I'm doing this next Sunday!
Hi guys - I'm doing this same trip next Sunday (12 May).
I have a D3 with all terrain etc and some brand new 18" BFG ATs...
I don't have a snorkel or sump guards etc.. The water level seemed a bit high here and there but the vids I saw (from you Hugh in the RRS - thanks) showed that the RRS and Discovery's coped ok as long as you take it slowly - would you agree?
Is a snorkel worth having? Don't you also need to relocate some of the electronics under the bonnet?
cheers in advance
DaveNewbie and now a proud 2006 Disco 3 SE owner
I don't know about the D3 but the RRS has a bit of a 'sump guard' anyway and I haven't had a problem. W.r.t the water - let someone else go in first and (unlike me ) don't go in too quickly. After driving my wife's D2 round there, at the next service my local indie quietly mentioned 1" of dried mud in the airbox. It hasn't rained for ages (though some is forecast Saturday). I have an EasyLift that effectively gives an extra couple of inches wading depth.
Apart from some really muddy ruts, I usually don't bother with Terrain Response. Stick it in low ratio and don't try and steer in the ruts (of which there aren't that many) and its OK.
I'll see you Sunday. My brother and my nephew want a trip out. The week after that I'm going to the Lake District and, before that, one of Tom's new 'Friday routes' round Surrey and Hants.
PS. I hope you saw the grief I got on the RRS page.
2015 Volvo V40
2014 D4 HSE
2006 RRS - C'est mort. Fin... ...It's alive! Oh no, it's not - scrapped.
2019 Suzuki Kingquad 400
2017 RamRod Taskmaster 1150
1977 John Deere 2130
6th May 2019 3:01 pm
BundyDave
Member Since: 17 Jun 2018
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 11
Hi Huw,
Many thanks for the feedback and advice! This is my first off road trip with the D3. I've done lots of off-road and beach work in beach buggies (in Oz) - VWs and 2 wheel rear drive many many years ago...
I also have a total of 6 people in my D3 so that will be fun... (secretly hoping for some to cancel haha). These things weigh as much as the moon anyway so the weight is probably not going to be all that noticeable.. You can get your go pro out for some laughs..
My wife got me this trip as a birthday present - and that's justified a lovely set of ATs...
Yes, I noticed the comments about the tracks... Surely Salisbury Plain is the most socially acceptable place for this and the military need to be used to "all terrain"
Look forward to meeting you on Sunday!
cheers
DaveNewbie and now a proud 2006 Disco 3 SE owner
6th May 2019 3:42 pm
Bodstruck
Member Since: 17 Aug 2017
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 231
You won't have a problem with your car. I have a sump guard but didn't need it on this trip.
I live local and have been out and about on the plain in the last few days - it is very dry out there compared to our trip in March. Rutted tracks have dried and not many deep puddles to be found.
Gear ratios on my manual D3 seem low so as Huw says, low box, 3rd gear most of the way on the slow stuff.
Have a great time
6th May 2019 10:07 pm
Bodstruck
Member Since: 17 Aug 2017
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 231
Lots of stuff going on for the spielberg/mendes film (1917) on the plain as well. You'll probably see the farmhouse set but there is also a trench complex, field hospital and numerous tech areas for extras, costumes etc.
6th May 2019 11:00 pm
BundyDave
Member Since: 17 Jun 2018
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 11
cheers Bodstruck.
Thanks very much for this. Sounds like a fairly easy going one then if it's dried out.
As I predicted I have now had two friends cancel so happily I only have 4 in the car now.
I'll post some photos.
Thanks
DaveNewbie and now a proud 2006 Disco 3 SE owner
Lots of stuff going on for the spielberg/mendes film (1917) on the plain as well. You'll probably see the farmhouse set but there is also a trench complex, field hospital and numerous tech areas for extras, costumes etc.
I should just wait and see, but ... how have they done the trench complex? I don't recall seeing pictures of white chalky trenches.
2015 Volvo V40
2014 D4 HSE
2006 RRS - C'est mort. Fin... ...It's alive! Oh no, it's not - scrapped.
2019 Suzuki Kingquad 400
2017 RamRod Taskmaster 1150
1977 John Deere 2130
8th May 2019 6:29 am
BundyDave
Member Since: 17 Jun 2018
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 11
HWN wrote:
...it's raining.
Newbie and now a proud 2006 Disco 3 SE owner
8th May 2019 9:42 am
Bodstruck
Member Since: 17 Aug 2017
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 231
Yep, went for a mooch this evening with one of my boys and definitely a bit more interesting now. Puddles have filled in a bit but not loads. Surface is much more slippy as well. Should be in for a fun day. Enjoy
9th May 2019 8:57 pm
cable
Member Since: 08 Jul 2012
Location: bristol
Posts: 175
HWN wrote:
I don't know about the D3 but the RRS has a bit of a 'sump guard' anyway and I haven't had a problem. W.r.t the water - let someone else go in first and (unlike me ) don't go in too quickly. After driving my wife's D2 round there, at the next service my local indie quietly mentioned 1" of dried mud in the airbox. It hasn't rained for ages (though some is forecast Saturday). I have an EasyLift that effectively gives an extra couple of inches wading depth.
Apart from some really muddy ruts, I usually don't bother with Terrain Response. Stick it in low ratio and don't try and steer in the ruts (of which there aren't that many) and its OK.
I'll see you Sunday. My brother and my nephew want a trip out. The week after that I'm going to the Lake District and, before that, one of Tom's new 'Friday routes' round Surrey and Hants.
PS. I hope you saw the grief I got on the RRS page.
Let us know how you find the Surrey and Hants Friday route as I have penciled myself in for the other two Friday routes Tom is running.
9th May 2019 9:40 pm
BundyDave
Member Since: 17 Jun 2018
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 11
Bodstruck wrote:
Yep, went for a mooch this evening with one of my boys and definitely a bit more interesting now. Puddles have filled in a bit but not loads. Surface is much more slippy as well. Should be in for a fun day. Enjoy
Ok Bodstruck - thanks for the update.. No doubt we'll post some photos from this Sunday... Newbie and now a proud 2006 Disco 3 SE owner
I don't know about the D3 but the RRS has a bit of a 'sump guard' anyway and I haven't had a problem. W.r.t the water - let someone else go in first and (unlike me ) don't go in too quickly. After driving my wife's D2 round there, at the next service my local indie quietly mentioned 1" of dried mud in the airbox. It hasn't rained for ages (though some is forecast Saturday). I have an EasyLift that effectively gives an extra couple of inches wading depth.
Apart from some really muddy ruts, I usually don't bother with Terrain Response. Stick it in low ratio and don't try and steer in the ruts (of which there aren't that many) and its OK.
I'll see you Sunday. My brother and my nephew want a trip out. The week after that I'm going to the Lake District and, before that, one of Tom's new 'Friday routes' round Surrey and Hants.
PS. I hope you saw the grief I got on the RRS page.
Let us know how you find the Surrey and Hants Friday route as I have penciled myself in for the other two Friday routes Tom is running.
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) don't go in too quickly. After driving my wife's D2 round there, at the next service my local indie quietly mentioned 1" of dried mud in the airbox. 
It hasn't rained for ages (though some is forecast Saturday). I have an EasyLift that effectively gives an extra couple of inches wading depth.
many many years ago...
