Member Since: 30 May 2011
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 120
When to turn on the Off-Road Settings
This might sound like a daft question, but when is the best time to start playing with the off road settings when off-road.
All being well me and my D4 will be heading out over an easy off-road course near Adeliade at the weekend, which will my first off-road trip in it. WIth the old D2 it was easy. Just switch on the DHA.
But I am also interested to see how far you can push the car before some of it's brains kick in.
I think the course has two reasonable climbs.
Discovery 4 2.7 SE
Defender 130 TD5 - Daily Drive
2.7t Caravan
Java TD5 HSE - Gone but not forgotten.
Java V6 Freelander - Had fun in it.
15th Feb 2012 4:45 am
disco4x4au
Member Since: 19 Jan 2006
Location: Perth
Posts: 409
Hmm,
To be most effective, you'll need to understand how the Terrain response works and what systems are affected. But in general terms, in normal on-road setting the car's traction control is set to a "default" reaction, similar to a D2 or a TD5 Defender. The various TR settings then change both the speed of reaction and the level of dampening (of wheel spin), amongst other factors. On anything that requires more than a walking pace (eg a run at a hill etc) you should also disable the DSC (button on the console).
Cheers,
Gordonex - 2006 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, with lots of stuff - R.I.P.
ex - 2009 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, had lots of stuff too!
Now - 2010 RRS 3.0 TDV6, rimini red, 18" rims + Cooper LTZ, rear eLocker, Spider tuning box, GOE protection plates and rock sliders, GOE 3way shortened rods.
15th Feb 2012 6:43 am
MadJax
Member Since: 30 May 2011
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 120
Sounds like I need to get the manual out. I would not have disabled anything. So thanks for the heads upDiscovery 4 2.7 SE
Defender 130 TD5 - Daily Drive
2.7t Caravan
Java TD5 HSE - Gone but not forgotten.
Java V6 Freelander - Had fun in it.
15th Feb 2012 8:05 am
markate
Member Since: 17 Sep 2011
Location: England
Posts: 704
Took a D4 round a Land Rover Experience Course today. One of the obstacles known as the elephants footprint is a pretty severe set of ruts/potholes designed to get at least 2 wheels off the ground at the same time. As part of the demo the D4 was taken through with Terrain Response in normal but in low range 1st gear and got through with a small amount of wheelspin until TC cut in. It was then taken through again with TR set to Mud and Ruts again in low range 1st and went through with minimal wheelspin.
I would disagree with turning off DSC unless you are in snow or deep sand certainly don't need to turn it off going up or down hill unless in snow or sand.
25th Feb 2012 9:05 pm
mike23118
Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: North Wales
Posts: 1028
Start by putting it in "sand mode" at the traffic lights then hoof it BIG Now Renault Trafic
D4 gone
D3 gone
25th Feb 2012 11:12 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50978
markate wrote:
I would disagree with turning off DSC unless you are in snow or deep sand certainly don't need to turn it off going up or down hill unless in snow or sand.
You might want to turn it off going uphill as DSC can impede your progress just when you need the power...eg on a steep rutted uphill track 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
25th Feb 2012 11:22 pm
garrycol
Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1130
Is there anywhere that lays down exactly what happens to the car settings when each TR response is selected.
When I get off in serious offroad conditions I just put it in rock crawl as that is closest to a normal locked up older style LR.
I appreciate that TR has different effects on power, cdl locking, TC settings etc depending on TR selection but have not seen it written down what each actually does.
Eg - when I drive on gravel road in my 101 I lock the cdl as it gives the best stability - but in the RRS/D3 I understand that when gravel etc is selected the cdl may not actually be locked - but I do not know.
Garry[/code]
26th Feb 2012 12:34 am
markate
Member Since: 17 Sep 2011
Location: England
Posts: 704
If you look at the owners manual, LR advise:
SWITCHING DSC OFF
Safety may be reduced by inappropriately disabling DSC. In the majority of driving situations, and particularly on-road, it is recommended that you do not disable DSC.
In some driving conditions it may be appropriate to disable DSC to improve traction.
These conditions include:
• Rocking the vehicle out of a hollow or deep
rut.
• Pulling away in deep snow, or a loose surface.
• Driving through deep sand or mud.
Which is in essence what I thought I was implying earlier but probably not as clearly.
Last edited by markate on 27th Feb 2012 10:26 am. Edited 1 time in total
26th Feb 2012 10:37 am
disco4x4au
Member Since: 19 Jan 2006
Location: Perth
Posts: 409
Don't believe everything you read in the manual. If you attempt something like this:
or this:
the DSC will inhibit progress - in fact I've never made it up the first one with the DSC on. As the car yaws to the left and right, the DSC automatically cuts power to attempt to correct a "skid" and the car loses momentum. This is most obvious on soft sand (doesn't have to be "deep") - many a newbie D3/D4 owner has embarrassed themselves coming to a grinding halt in the middle of a beach whilst everyone else zooms past
Cheers,
Gordonex - 2006 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, with lots of stuff - R.I.P.
ex - 2009 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, had lots of stuff too!
Now - 2010 RRS 3.0 TDV6, rimini red, 18" rims + Cooper LTZ, rear eLocker, Spider tuning box, GOE protection plates and rock sliders, GOE 3way shortened rods.
27th Feb 2012 1:36 am
garrycol
Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1130
Gordon - I agree. Soon after I got my car I bellied it out on a high hard point with the wheels in mud and could not get out - despite trying to give it some revs to get the TC to work as it wasn't, the engine would not go over 2700rpm.
When wheels started spinning on the one side of the car, DSC was cutting power and TC not activating - in the end I had to use my Freelander to snatch it out.
I now have it locked into disengage DSC when safe to do so offroad and definitely when any chance getting stopped - also do not forget to turn it off whenever you change TR setting and turn it back on when back on the road.
Garry
27th Feb 2012 2:17 am
dominicbeirne
Member Since: 19 Apr 2011
Location: Brisbane, Qld
Posts: 10
disco4x4au wrote:
many a newbie D3/D4 owner has embarrassed themselves coming to a grinding halt in the middle of a beach whilst everyone else zooms past
Cheers,
Gordon
That was me on my first sand drive in the D3 now - 2009 SE Santorini Black
77 - 81 learnt to drive in Dad's 1st Rangie on Stradbroke Island, Fraser Island and Dirranbandi Queensland
81 - 83 thrashed his 2nd Rangie paddock bashing at Dirranbandi
84 - 87 knicked off with his last Rangie up through Cooloola Sand Mass, Teewah Coloured Sands and Fraser Island Queensland
86 - 92 Australian Army various Series and 110 Landies
29th Feb 2012 2:08 am
amazing
Member Since: 05 Mar 2011
Location: chengdu
Posts: 1542
with mud ruts I turn DSC off, I climbed a rather slippery bumpy slope (marked as 45° but more like 35-40)the Discovery behind me failed the climb as he lost momentum tried and tried but could not get up (he even has an Ediff which I don't) after a few attemps I go down and turn off his DSC ..straight up next attempt. be warned tho' makes the back end "playful" on muddy corners.
On snow much the same as above .. never tried others but would prob turn off 'cos thats the kind of guy I amIt is better to have and not need it then need and not have it.
29th Feb 2012 6:14 am
Simons17
Member Since: 12 Aug 2010
Location: beverley north yorkshire
Posts: 233
the DSC does not fully switch off even with the button pressed on the dash it is limited. i would agree with all saying it should be turned off via the switch for steep rutted climbs other wise you stop.
as regards the best mode to be in for offroading on the terain response look in the wiki section of this site, it tells you what each mode does
3rd Mar 2012 12:26 pm
Mark Y
Member Since: 14 Sep 2008
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1249
Grass-Gravel-Snow (firm base slippery top):
If Low Range is selected, ride height is raised and Hill Descent Control is activated
Differentials are locked.
Engine pickup is softer, reducing sudden bursts of power.
Auto transmission up shifts early.
Sets off in Second Gear, High Range or Third Gear, Low Range
Stability systems primed to cut any slip or slide
Mud-Ruts (soft uneven muddy ground, wet and soggy sand):
Hill Descent Control is selected
Differentials are partly locked
Low Range is preferred, but not automatically recommended
If Low Range selected, ride height is raised (NB requires manual activation if trailer attached)
Transmission shifts early, remaining in higher gears for longer
Sand (soft and dry also deep gravel):
If Low Range selected, ride height is raised (NB requires manual activation if trailer attached)
Throttle is responsive to acceleration
Transmission downshifts readily
Traction and stability systems allow for increased wheel slip
Switch off DSC if extremely soft and dry
Rock Crawl (wet or dry solid unyielding ground – Rocky river crossings):
Low range must be selected
Differentials are locked
Ride height is raised (NB requires manual activation if trailer attached)
Slowest speed for Hill Descent Control is selected
Allows extreme suspension articulation
Sets off in first gear
Stability systems primed to cut any slip or slide
________________________________________
11th Mar 2012 3:50 pm
Swampy16
Member Since: 25 Jan 2012
Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 6
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