Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23866
Welsh Lanes October 2012 (Snowdonia & Strata Florida)
Spent last Saturday and Sunday driving various lanes in Wales.
Started near Barmouth on lanes in the Snowdonia National Park. Camped near Devils Bridge and drove Strata Florida and the surrounding area on the Sunday. A great weekend.
Four vehicles, my D3, heavily modded Wrangler, Defender 110 TD5 and Defender 90 TD5.
A couple of the lanes in Snowdonia were really at the limit of my comfort zone with only a Mantec bash plate. I'd have liked more underbody protection, but I just took it very slowly in Rock Crawl mode and only bashed the plate twice. I also would have been happier with 18" not 19" tyres (I've got V8 brakes so can't have 17" rims) But once again the ATR's proved why they've won several AT tyre tests and amazingly there was no damage to either sidewalls or rims. I also think that the less aggresive tread pattern was a help on rocky sections.
A snorkel would have come in handy on the Strata Florida
Stupidly I'd forgotten to take off the rigid mud guards and once there I didn't want to hold everyone up, so I carried on. Both of the n/s ones got split but are still in one piece.
Despite having owned the D3 since 2006, I'm always amazed by the fact that in virtually standard form (I've got a Mantec bash plate and Pirelli ATR tyres, nothing else) I can do some pretty extreme off-roading and then waft home on the motorway in almost limo like luxury. Fantastic vehicles!
3rd Oct 2012 5:51 pm
MHP
Member Since: 31 Dec 2011
Location: lydd
Posts: 2776
Looks like you had a great weekend. Some great pics
3rd Oct 2012 5:58 pm
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
Some great photos It is amazing what they can do with very little effortCheers Ian
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3rd Oct 2012 6:36 pm
marco 110
Member Since: 15 Nov 2009
Location: SALLES 33
Posts: 1014
YEP
Great photos , It is amazing what a D3 can do
Strata Florida ? UK ? "nice" track !!! need a LAND ROVER ! Marco.
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Member Since: 27 May 2011
Location: Sticking the Ex back in the skanks bin
Posts: 2824
Great work there Tom )
Doing the same this weekend in the FFRR so will see how it copes on the mtr's and with the Mantec bash plate as well got lots of recovery bits to check off incase the worst happens including waffle boards and front and rear recovery ropes pre mounted
Does your d3 have the locking rear diff??FFRR Owner, very nearly became a D3 owner
Test piloted a new D4 XS SDV6.. Gone and being forgotten i hope!!
D4 HSE 10MY
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4th Oct 2012 7:23 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23866
KP, the Snowdonia lanes were far more punishing and technical than the SF. Not that the SF is for the faint of heart.
You'll be absolutely fine with MTRs and a Mantec plate. Just watch the deepest of the river crossings on the SF, the summer rains have carved out a couple of dips on the river bed. I tried but failed to stop my bow wave breaking over the bonnet, albeit briefly. Let any vehicles with snorkels go first and observe closely would be my advice. Drive past the bomb hole as well, unless you want to risk losing the bumpers on your FFRR.
I always carry heavy duty shackles (D rings) and a recovery strap, but I didn't even bother to attach the shackles to my recovery points or remove the rear cover. There's no muddy sections that you'd get stuck in with a D3/4 or FFRR. But it's good practise to do so.
I haven't got a locking rear diff. I got a very good discount on my D3 and it was the right colour combo. but it had already been built. To be honest you'll get everywhere a D3/4 with a locking rear diff. can go without one. It's just that the vehicles with one will get there with much less drama.
4th Oct 2012 4:00 pm
kp
Member Since: 27 May 2011
Location: Sticking the Ex back in the skanks bin
Posts: 2824
Thanks LT
No bumper ripping at all for me as ie only just got it back from the body shop but will be prepping the outside a little to make it more water tight and protect the bodywork though it will make many laugh it will save most little scratches I hope and keep some water at bay FFRR Owner, very nearly became a D3 owner
Test piloted a new D4 XS SDV6.. Gone and being forgotten i hope!!
D4 HSE 10MY
D4 XS 11MY
SSRR Destroyer *2
4th Oct 2012 4:49 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23866
Don't worry about the body work, any foliage was well out of the way on the actual SF and the surrounding lanes that we drove.
Just think about what you're doing and take it very slowly when you need to. Don't worry about the speed that others maybe doing, it's not a race and nobody will hassle you for taking your time. I don't think I even added any more marks to my alloys, although I fully expected to on the Snowdonia lanes.
Your only real concern should be the height of the river. (Oh and that dodgy MTR you bought from me )
4th Oct 2012 5:31 pm
D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1319
Great pics thanks for sharing, who planned the route any chance of route map?A few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
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4th Oct 2012 6:46 pm
kp
Member Since: 27 May 2011
Location: Sticking the Ex back in the skanks bin
Posts: 2824
Cheers LT
I just pootle along in Low1 most of the time with hdc
Ill just do some water protection as its been raining again FFRR Owner, very nearly became a D3 owner
Test piloted a new D4 XS SDV6.. Gone and being forgotten i hope!!
D4 HSE 10MY
D4 XS 11MY
SSRR Destroyer *2
4th Oct 2012 7:13 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23866
D4JWW wrote:
Great pics thanks for sharing, who planned the route any chance of route map?
I didn't get involved in the planning at all. Just followed. But we worked from a 3 day driving route that one of my friends had done before. I can email you this. There's a section near the start which is closed due to a landslide. I promise you that not even a tractor can get through.
Send me a pm with your email address.
4th Oct 2012 8:07 pm
Slingo3
Member Since: 24 Jan 2010
Location: AONB
Posts: 502
Memories LT,
Dragged the Tin Tent to Barmouth a few year ago for a week on the site next to the beech, climbed the hills above for cracking views. (directly opposite to your photo) Looks like you had the perfect tyres for the job then!
7th Nov 2012 8:06 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Love the photo with the two bikes in the back ground and the riders looking on in disbelief MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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7th Nov 2012 9:27 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23866
Slingo3 wrote:
Looks like you had the perfect tyres for the job then!
I'd have preffered 18" ATR's, but the 19"s were superb and amazingly were totally unmarked/damaged. Better on the rocky sections than a more aggresive MT, IMO.
14th Nov 2012 11:59 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23866
Russell wrote:
Love the photo with the two bikes in the back ground and the riders looking on in disbelief
That's my favourite as well. They really couldn't believe such a shiny and standard D3 was were it was.
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