Making the LR3 trail ready

[CoMclovin]

Ironically I don't have much of anything for mods, I just kept it pretty stock other than a few things

Rebadged with the Discovery 3 logo
GoodYear Wrangler ST 265-60-18

In the future, probably an A-Frame or another front facing bar with lightkit, and perhaps some skidplates... I like to keep it simple

 

[nwoods]

What do you need to do to ready your truck for off roading?
1. Better tires is a good help
2. Recover tools & equipment
3. Communications - FRS/CB/HAM/flares
4. Fire extinguisher
5. Maps
6. Knowledge and/or additional vehicles

What do I have?
- clear film headlamp protectors
- HID (H7) low beam headlamp upgrade (massive improvement!)
- 65mm+ lifted coil springs (yeah, won't apply to most of you!)
- OEM ladder and Hannibal roof rack
- OEM "raised air intake"
- Rasta front, under, and mid skid plates
- RoverSpecialty rock sliders (had Stage II, now have Stage I's and love them!)
- Cooper Zeon LTZ 285/60/18
- Cobra WRX-75 CB with custom antenna mount
- Icom 208H 2m/440 HAM radio
- FRS radios stashed here and there
- Viair 400 hardmount onboard air
- OEM cargo barrier for storage lashings
- 8ton high-rise telescoping bottle jack
- wood base plate on a pull string for bottle jack
- OEM driving lights (total crap, avoid them!)
- Rola "playtapus" rooftop cargo bag
- SuperSiphon
- Jumper cables
- SPOT tracker
- Magellen Crossover GPS hardwired into car
- iPhone port hardwired into stereo (no radio signals when off roading!)
- Map case bursting at the seams
- Misc trail books for SoCal, Norcal, Utah, AZ and CO
- 5lbs Type II Fire Extinguiser
- Wilderness First Aid cert and good first aide kit
- TreadLightly materials and handouts for trail hooligans
- Gerber folding shovel
- WAG bags and a few rolls of TP
- 150' climbing rope
- bags of spare body trim clips
- 3x30 ARB recovery strap
- 4 shackles
- several pairs of leather gloves
- Tika Plus headlamp and Surefire 6P flashlight
- misc air/tire tools, gauges, meters, fittings
- ARB speedy seal tire repair kit
- Zip ties (heavy duty)
- chemlight glow sticks
- tree branch pruning shears
- misc rags, electrical wire, connectors, etc..
- tool rolls, tool bag, misc tools, ratches, etc...
- compass with whistle
- half a dozen or more heavy duty ratchet straps
- wet wipes

 

[flysurfer]

Thanks for the info on "sensor arm mod." I've added it to my list - Brian

 

[Houm_WA]

No problem Brian. I was on the fence for a while on the mod...but once I became dead-set on getting the MT/Rs I felt that I would need it, and I was right. Of course a lot of guidance came from this message board on that.

I change the sensor arms the night before a trail run. I also change out my wheels/tires which are mounted separately and stored in my garage. Then the next day I change back. I won't fit in my garage if I do not switch back! I need Access height.

It's pretty dramatic the difference that it makes. The LR3 looks a lot different. As for behavior...yeah, it feels different too. It clearly handles better on the street without the mod, but off the street the extra ground clearance and better approach/departure angles due to the lift help a lot.

I have experienced one suspension fault with the mod my first time out, but it was amber and I think the LR3 was a little bit confused as to what the heck was going on. I re-booted it, and never had a problem since then.

 

[Houm_WA]

The general concensus is that people are bolting on:

1. Protection (sliders, skids, bumpers).
2. Tires

...and that's about it. With some people also tricking their EAS computer. Pretty amazing what the LR3 can do with just a few reasonable upgrades!

 

[bgsntth]

I do not do much in the way of rock-crawling, mainly for serious ascents/descents on brush covered decomposed granite roads/trails.

-Yokohama Geolander A/T-S 265/60-18
-A-Frame Brushguard
-Side-steps, which work great as brushguards too.
-Lamp protectors

 

[LROffroad]

WOW nwoods, nice LR3, man that thing is incredible! I am envious! I must say! I'll bet your ac works!!! hahaha, the ac in my p38 SUCKS!

 

[USAFbuckeye]

For the guys who have powder coated rims. How do they stand up (finish-wise) on/offroad? What did you pay to get it done? Would you do anything differently?

Thanks!

 

[craiglud]

Ok I have been watching this thread for a couple of days and it finally got me to inventory what I have added over the last year!

I originally took my rover off road several times with the stock tires and our local rally this year had a lot of stock LR3's with stock tires. Guess what the biggest issue was? In one rocky area 3 LR3's got flats and one got two flats!

As others have already pointed out I would get the tires first. The next thing I bought were the sliders as most of the trails I do have a lot of rock. I also would not take a rover off road without some emergency communication plan, HAM, Spot, etc....

I also have these fun toys that make it that much better.
- Small digital camera
- Traxide dual battery setup
- Rear metal lamp guards
- Height sensor rod mod (11mm)
- OEM ladder and modified ORM roof rack
- Mantec front skid plate
- RoverSpecialty Stage III slider
- Cooper Zeon LTZ 285/60/18
- Cobra 19 DX IV
- Yaesu 8800 2m/440 HAM radio
- FRS radio, 2 pair
- Onboard air compressor, installed near second battery
- Big Red 3-ton high lift bottle jack (18inch)
- wood base plate with rope handle
- OEM driving lights
- SuperSiphon
- Front Runner roof rack dual jerry can holder
- 2 Wedco jerry cans
- Jumper cables
- SPOT tracker
- Garmin Oregon 400t
- OEM ipod connection kit ($125)
- Trail books for Arizona, Utah
- small fire extinguisher
- Winderness First Aid certified, first aid kit
- Small shovel
- Baby wipes and TP
- Custom recovery rope, formerly used to tether blimps!
- Assorted shackles
- 2 pair leather gloves
- liquid filled tire air gauge
- Safety Seal tire repair kit
- Makita Cordless chainsaw
- Small toolkit
- 4 tie down straps with eye hooks for roof rack
- Hi-Lift Jack
- Rasta hidden winch kit (on order)
- Warn XD9000, synthetic rope
- Engel 35 fridge/freezer mounted to rear middle seat, or cargo area

 

[Houm_WA]

Where's the pic, Craig?

By the way guys...I more or less wanted to know what sort of goodies you've BOLTED ON to your rigs, not what kind of $hit you carry in your gym bags or what you eat for lunch on the trail.

C'mon man! "2 pair leather gloves"....huh?!?! Does that sound like an LR3 Mod to you? As the OP I've got to reign this sucker in a little.

(just having a little fun here...don't take it too serious)