Member Since: 16 Aug 2008
Location: home
Posts: 1215
Off-road and rear bumper
With my Disco 1 Camel I always bent my rear bumper ends upwards when driving some serious terrain. Even that bad that I had to jump on the end before I could open the rear door.
How is your experience with the D3 rear bumper being high quality 'plastic'?
ThanksRoel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK (traded it for a Britains 42101)
1984 90 TD5
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55WPT
Also member of club MTR
and Club Faultmate
Interested in my 4x4 history see my website: www.mudmachine.webklik.nl
Sorry it's in Dutch and with google translator it gets funny.
7th Sep 2008 4:52 am
hernan1304
Member Since: 28 Feb 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 490
In my experience it's hard to damage the D3's rear bumper because the spare sits underneath and will hit first. However, it's not impossible and I've seen pictures to prove it. Kaymar makes a steel rear bumper that you might be interested in if you're going to be doing really serious stuff.
Member Since: 16 Aug 2008
Location: home
Posts: 1215
That's always my dilemma. It is a G4 so I want to keep it original as possible, but try to minimize Off-road damage. The steel Camel Trophy Disco 1 bumper was easy to fix. Just jump on the corners and they will be in reasonable shape.
But the D3 bumper looks a little funerable to me.Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK (traded it for a Britains 42101)
1984 90 TD5
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55WPT
Also member of club MTR
and Club Faultmate
Interested in my 4x4 history see my website: www.mudmachine.webklik.nl
Sorry it's in Dutch and with google translator it gets funny.
7th Sep 2008 4:24 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
no,this had been twisted about 140 degrees and just bounced back into shape. Just a few clips needed replacing. You shouldn't have too much problem.Bodsys Brake Bible
Dunc took his off by sliding into a hole way steeper than the book departure angle for the D3. After it happened the site marshalls (such as they were) came over to tell us that you're only meant to enter that hole from the other side, and then ideally only in a 90 or something modded for those kind of angles.
As mentioned above, a few clips and it was back on as good as new. ish.I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
Have to say mine looked as good as new after 2 x renault clio's wrote themselves off driving into me at the same set of lights, 5 weeks apart . .
Also cost me one new clip - and the lad who hit me got his Dad to send me a £1 coin to pay for the clip "To finish first, one first has to finish ...."
7th Sep 2008 11:14 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50953
I blew some bumper clips after dropping into a pit at the Hounds of the Baskevilles site ...you wouldn't notice after TFC twiddled with his leatherman though 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
7th Sep 2008 11:17 pm
disco4x4au
Member Since: 19 Jan 2006
Location: Perth
Posts: 409
In my experience, you can tear it off on departure, but as everyone has mentioned, it rarely damages the plastic, just breaks a few clips.
On really really serious off-roading, I take mine off first.
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.
8th Sep 2008 1:03 am
Roel
Member Since: 16 Aug 2008
Location: home
Posts: 1215
That is about how I damage my Camel's rear bumper.
Here you can how my bumper is after jumping on it so I can open the back door again. Both sides bend up were the lights are in the bumper.
Here you can see how far it's actually bend up and still be able to open the door.
I think I have to find away to protect the G4D3's rear bumper or buy a bag off clips and keep that in the car. Because it looks like I will lose my rear bumper a few times. Hopefully the clips break and not the part were the clips connect to the rearbumper. [/img]Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK (traded it for a Britains 42101)
1984 90 TD5
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55WPT
Also member of club MTR
and Club Faultmate
Interested in my 4x4 history see my website: www.mudmachine.webklik.nl
Sorry it's in Dutch and with google translator it gets funny.
8th Sep 2008 10:10 am
Desert Traveller
Member Since: 06 Aug 2006
Location: The Gabba - QLD
Posts: 420
After a while the plastic can be permanently damaged. I just gave up and fitted a Kaymar.06 TDV6 SE with many LR and after-market extras. Used only on weekends and trips out west.
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8th Sep 2008 12:37 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
Thanks for bringing that back up guys .
The rear bumper on the D3 is only cosmetic, but its quite tough.
If you do rip it off, dont be tempted to try and push it back on by brute force. if you do you'll break the clips that hold it on. Best to remove the wheel arches, rear lights then remove the bumper if you need to and refit.
You'll find it goes back into shape...... just like magic
I now leave my removeable towbar on as it protects the bumper but does'nt act like an anchor, it just slices through the mud etc.Duncan
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8th Sep 2008 12:55 pm
Roel
Member Since: 16 Aug 2008
Location: home
Posts: 1215
I don't think the towhitch will help a lot as that protects the middle but the problem is often the outer edges that land on the ground and ar pushed up/backwards.
Like what I think happened with Dunc's disco. It landed with the right corner on the ground and the rest off the disco continued forward/down.Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK (traded it for a Britains 42101)
1984 90 TD5
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55WPT
Also member of club MTR
and Club Faultmate
Interested in my 4x4 history see my website: www.mudmachine.webklik.nl
Sorry it's in Dutch and with google translator it gets funny.
Roel, my experience is that it is quite strong but gets filled up with mud (acts as a scoop), I have never bent it, but as per the previous comment I have landed on the spare a few times. IIRC the departure angle on the D3 is better than the D1 (and definitely better than the D2).
Also as the D3 has the split tailgate like the RR Calssic, it is unlikely you will not be able to get the back open somehow.Craig
2015 D? SDV6 HSE Loire Blue
2009 D4 TDV6 HSE Santorini Black
2006 G4 Challenge V8 HSE (Gone, but fuel bills not forgotten!)
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8th Sep 2008 5:08 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
Quote:
I don't think the towhitch will help a lot as that protects the middle but the problem is often the outer edges that land on the ground and ar pushed up/backwards.
The tow hitch doesnt prevent damage but it does help a lot. Since I have started leaving the tow hitch on I havnt suffered any bumper damage. So it must be working as I dont beleive in luck !!Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
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