Roof rack for Discovery

[kitmax]

Has anyone out there got an unwanted roof rack for a Land Rover Discovery?
Full length required.(UK)
Also a set of sand tyres? (eg Michelin XS)cash waitingThanks - Kitmax

[fue_ll]

About tires; Your best bet in UK must be the ex-MoD sales, for example at MVS, Craddock's, Paddock Spares or other ex-MoD surplus sales... most (or all?) ex-MoD 110's are fitted w/ Michelin XS and shouldn't be a prob finding a low-milage set...

The military (Wolf?) and/or 130 rim's are also very though and should fit the Disco w/o prob's! =)

Johan G*

[RichardM]

Brooklyn 4x4 in southampton had a huge pile of 750x16 michelin XS sand tyres about a year ago when I was last in there. Think they wanted about £80 each for them (brand new) Careful when fitting them on a disco though, as 750s touch the wheel arch unless you fit slightly higher springs & even then they will rub on mild axle articluation. Interestingly, only rarely seen them on any exMOD LRs in the UK. The majority tend to be on Michelin XCLs, Goodyear Xtra Grips or G90s, all of which are fairly aggressive mud tyres & the last thing you want in the desert! A good compromise tyre that is becomming increasingly common in the desert is the BFG All Terrain, which comes in several Discovery compatible sizes. happy hunting! Rich M

[Roman]

Hi Kit,

Recently I bought a set of XS's from Paddocks at a similar price. Check the forum archive.

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Roman (UK)
www.polandrover.com

[kitmax]

Thanks Roman
Brooklyn's Michelin XS sand tyres are ideal but too big for my standard Discovery - (and I know you have worked a little magic on yours...)
I don't want to alter my suspension etc (sounds complicated!), so any other ideas?
Regards Kitmax

[kitmax]

Dear everyone
Thanks for all your helpful replies - I have now started a new topic called 'Sand Tyres for Discovery' (which is what I should have called this one...!)
New roof-rack from Brownchurch UK arrives next week. Kitmax

[fue_ll]

Mmm, seems I confused XCl's for XS's, hehe, sorry about that...

About 750r16 on a Disco; It's not much work to let someone else fit an OME suspension-kit (2" lift) and 1" spacers wich allow 750r16 without prob's... =) The OME-kit should cost around £900 including fitting in UK.

Johan G*

[This message has been edited by fue_ll (edited 31 July 2001).]

[kitmax]

Thanks Johan
I'll check out the OME suspension kit
Any ideas who can supply?
Regards Kitmax

[Roman]

Kit,
Most of the UK 4x4 specialist outfits can supply/fit OME shocks and springs (not sure about spacers, though, as they are not a popular option, just as castor angle adapters). Mind you, even the HD OME springs will be too soft if your vehicle is heavier than stock and you load it full of gear).

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Roman (UK)
www.polandrover.com

[Chris Scott]

Re: OME I can tell you prices are a rip off in the UK (what a surprise - even LRs are cheaper abroad!) - I got my back leaves in Europe via a trade mate and saved hundreds - but try this guy:
Gwyn Lewis
Firbanks Garage
Welshpool
01938 810 298
..... and avoid Frogs Is

Despite what Roman says, I must add my experience of driving with an OME-d Defender 4-up + fridge in Libya was that it coped just fine with HD coils.

Chris S

[Terry Davies]

Suggest you go for springs with a two inch lift and 25 percent extra loading. Don’t forget that fitting 750 tyres will raise your centre of gravity by almost three inches, which you have already raised anyway by fitting the roof rack. It will also put your speedometer out so you won’t be able to easily use the trip recorder for navigating.

Pack the heavy stuff as low down as possible, ie jerry cans positioned over the rear axle, not on the roof rack. If your Disco is more than five years old, pull up the rear carpet and thoroughly check the rear floor pan for rot, particularly the area over the fuel tank.

Check that you bump stops are in perfect condition, and if your radius arms have ever been fitted with Polybushes, replace them with new radius arms with standard rubber bushes. You are taking your Disco to the limit of its rear suspension capability.

If you can afford them, buy four of the Grand Erg fibreglass sand plates to get you out when the inevitable happens.