What is the most capable offroad 4WD you can walk into

[Thai]

put that in your Land Rover pipe and smoke it, john! :lol:

In addition, despite what John says (which we all know is not from actual off-roading experience!), one of the most popular upgrade for a Defender (or Range Rover of the old days) is a locker(s).

And this is an article by LR folks who actually know what they're talking about: Range Rover, Defender 24 spline upgrade

Interesting quotes:

"The 24 spline heavy duty axles can also be used in place of stock 24 spline axles (as in Defender 90s) as the Ashcroft units are stronger overall and better suited to use and abuse with lockers of all types."

"A good step to make your Rover more capable off road is to install differential lockers of some sort."

"Trust us, you will... we've broken dozens and we don't even drive with a lead foot, we mainly just do slow speed rock crawling."

"...but if you drive with common sense and have the best equipment going, you have a good shot at getting through the trails when your buddies Rover is side lined with a snapped half shaft!"

"Previously in one season of off roading with a 1987 Range Rover with the standard 10 spline axles the ECR staff broken upwards of 7 axles. When the same vehicle was converted to HD 24 spline axles we stopped breaking axles completely." YES, SEVEN AXLES BROKEN IN ONE SEASON!

"The front axle of a coil sprung Rover incorporates a CV (constant velocity) joint. The 10 spline axle CV joints also suffer from premature detonation. :toilet3: Too much stress from a front end locker, or even just too much throttle and too many miles can blow your CV joint splines or cage and leave you stranded."

So, yeah, the Defender lags behind the Rubicon in both capability and durability! When you lag behind a Jeep in durability, THAT is when you know that you are in trouble!

 

[offshorebear]

If we are including Defenders as factory vehicals (can't buy them in NA, obviously) you can get pretty much whatever you want, including heavy duty locking axles. Their "Pro" series can have almost whatever you want, but at a price I'm sure.

But if we include overseas offerings, there are a lot of choices with solid axles and lockers. A Samuri is even smaller and lighter than a Wrangler and would probably beat it on most trails.

 

[brian2sun]

A Samuri is even smaller and lighter than a Wrangler and would probably beat it on most trails.

That's true, a locked Samurai is a definite contender. In fact the "King of Rocks" is a Samurai (at least it started out that way).

 

[LINY4Runner]

So, yeah, the Defender lags behind the Rubicon in both capability and durability! When you lag behind a Jeep in durability, THAT is when you know that you are in trouble!

We don't agree often, but :iagree:

and John, when Thai and I agree, THAT'S when you know you're in trouble! :hatsoff:

hehehehe

 

[JohnsD90]

So, yeah, the Defender lags behind the Rubicon in both capability and durability! When you lag behind a Jeep in durability, THAT is when you know that you are in trouble!

Really, 27 years on the same body style, yeah they musta did a really shitty job on that.

 

[Thai]

Really, 27 years on the same body style, yeah they musta did a really shitty job on that.

We're talking off-road capability here. When your axles blow up SEVEN TIMES in ONE SEASON or when your articulation is much less than a Rubicon, there is not much else to say. I love it when you say that a Defender does not "need" lockers...you're partially right! Put a locker on there and the thing breaks like a toothpick!

The problem with you is that you're totally INEXPERIENCE off-road, you don't know much except for what little knowledge you gain from your mommy and daddy's garage, and you come on here talk trash about stuff that you have no clue about! So Gay Even your friends are now seeing how blind you are!

 

[M1911]

Thai: my brother used to a Land Rover 88, and a first gen Range Rover. He called the half-shafts on these vehicles "drive-line fuses."

 

[Thai]

Thai: my brother used to a Land Rover 88, and a first gen Range Rover. He called the half-shafts on these vehicles "drive-line fuses."

Haha...you're right, THAT is one feature that the LR has over everyone else... I guess that also means that the drivetrain has "Parental Control" built into it by LR because the powertrain fails so much that you will never make it out of your driveway! :

 

[Thai]

Well, after thinking about this issue for many moons, IF i had a choice today of which vehicle to buy for MY purposes, then i would pick 2010 4runner Trail in a heartbeat. Why? As i get older (creeping past 35), i am less into all-out rockcrawling and take-no-prisoner off-roading. Like i said earlier, a stock Rubicon is more than enough for me...and i will say the same for the 4runner Trail. My interest is more into family fun, off-roading because i have to go somewhere nice, not off-roading for the sole fun of it. I want safety in a vehicle as much as i want off-road pure capability...and for this sole reason, the Rubicon falls out of favor (distant #2 choice). The side crash test scores leave a lot to be desired...the same for possible rollover (not tested yet, but i still fear in an open-top Jeep). In addition, practicality and roominess are really not in the Jeep's language...and this is where a traditional midsize SUV rules. How can my kids rest in the backseat on an off-road trip if the seat is so upright? How can you beat a 4runner on the highway for its good ride and quietness? You can't, certainly not in a Rubi. But, yeah, a Rubi is king.