Member Since: 13 Mar 2011
Location: Scotland
Posts: 155
help with overlanding please (Merged)
Hi to any one that can help
i'm new to this form and need a little help with a D4. I'm thinking of taking a D4 on an overland trip but dont now were to start. i have contacted Nene overland for some help and waiting for them to get back to me.
what i would like to know is has any one taken there nice brand new D4 on an overland trip say morocco, if so what mods have u guys and girls done to the cars and how did it coup with the soft sand, did u have any problems, what spares u took and did u get stuck alot. only resone i aske this is most of the videos i see of this car is it being stuck.
any advice and pics of ur cars would be great and thanked
thanks for reading and helping if u do
Mark Hope
26th Mar 2011 6:13 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73045
Welcome Mark! Get a few posts in and PM MrH (you need 5 to PM), he took a new D4 to Tunisia with a few of us in D3s last October. It did very well, just don't ask how often he got stuck!!
D4 in the middle, mid-life crisis blue.
Click image to enlarge
Only kidding MrH, honest!!
26th Mar 2011 6:21 pm
Mark Hope
Member Since: 13 Mar 2011
Location: Scotland
Posts: 155
HaHa ok want ask im that is That MrH's D4
thanks for the reply
26th Mar 2011 6:24 pm
blowpipe
Member Since: 07 May 2009
Location: lightwater
Posts: 1111
I know a group went to Morocco last year, so there should be plenty of info on this site if you do a search.
27th Mar 2011 12:37 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26767
I was in the group that went to Morocco. My D3 coped pretty well. It did get stuck in the sand, they are no where near as agile as a Defender in soft sand - they are too heavy and the electronics hamper it.
The only issues I had with the vehicle were a dislike for the Moroccan derv, this and the combination of high altitudes and extremely high temperatures caused a few "Engine System Fault" messages, usually when overtaking an overloaded lorry with another one heading straight for you!
All the D3's needed shock absorbers on their return. The standard ones are not very durable when used to the extreme in high temperatures.
The air conditioning is amazing at keeping the interior cool in extreme temperatures, the engine temp never moved from normal, despite the fan working flat out. The fan does sap a lot of power when things are hot.
For comfort, combined with ability, it simply can't be beaten.
For reliability, they all got home. Some issues, but so did most of the rest of the cars (Defenders). No show stoppers except one of the Defenders blew a diff. He was able to do a roadside repair to enable it to drive back to Spain.
27th Mar 2011 2:54 pm
Mark Hope
Member Since: 13 Mar 2011
Location: Scotland
Posts: 155
thanks for the reply very help full what tires were u running and do u think a rear locking diff would have helped as i have not orderd my car yet but own a defender puma and alot of people a telling me to stick with it rather than up grade to a discovery 4 for overland trips. i now there very good offroed but i want more comfert and toys. hence way i want the d4. any more info would be great
Yup agreed, can't wait for quieter times and the next tripLRs are a fond memory, apart from the maintenance.
27th Mar 2011 8:37 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26767
I used 17" Cooper STT. They were a bit noisy, and a little too aggressive for the sand, but they are strong tyres and I suffered no punctures. The other D3's were shod with Goodyear MTR 19" and had a few punctures.
However, you are thinking D4, which will only accept 19 inch wheels, so your choices are limited. Take a couple of spares.
A rear locking diff would not have made much difference in the sand. Its the weight of the car, and the fact that the electronics cut the power when you need it.
LRs are a fond memory, apart from the maintenance.
27th Mar 2011 8:45 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73045
For the record that's me in the car in front of MrH's D4 and I was not stuck as it was not lunch time!
27th Mar 2011 8:51 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26767
Merged your 2 separate threads Mark
27th Mar 2011 8:55 pm
leeds
Member Since: 30 Aug 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 4314
People mean vastly different things by the expression 'overland'
IF what you want is a 'real' overland vehicle you will be hard push to beat a 300 TDi 110 'Overland' to me means a multimonth trip as a solo vehicle.
The biggest enemy of an overland vehicle is weight. Take a heavy vehicle, throw in a lot of goodies and a lot of electronics then you can start to expect trouble.
If what you want is a daily mile muncher with some offroad capability whilst travelling in convoy then a D3/D4 will be fine. Keep weight down, be prepared to air down and learn to keep lead out of your right boot and use it at the right time
Brendan
27th Mar 2011 9:32 pm
Mark Hope
Member Since: 13 Mar 2011
Location: Scotland
Posts: 155
hi leeds
thanks for what u said i do agree with what u say but a 300tdi i so un comfy and load. i know i have worked and driven them in the army and had to many uncomfy exersises in a 300tdi land rover so hence the d4 range rover comfert in a car that can do alot thats why i picked a d4 they are prity amazing and after reading MrH
pm he sent me it will be my car of choise just need some help with what toy to bolt on
thanks
mark
Last edited by Mark Hope on 28th Mar 2011 6:58 pm. Edited 1 time in total
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