Seriously Embarassed Range Rover
Discussion
Friend came round with 2010 Range Rover, took him down to a very moderate hill on some recently rained on grass.
Two and a half tons came to a halt just before the brow having selected every option on the dial. All season tyres, but it was the weight and clay soil which beat it.
Three quarters of a ton of sweet little Panda 4x4 however not only towed the RR over the hill but hardly left a mark
Two and a half tons came to a halt just before the brow having selected every option on the dial. All season tyres, but it was the weight and clay soil which beat it.
Three quarters of a ton of sweet little Panda 4x4 however not only towed the RR over the hill but hardly left a mark
The little Panda pulls well above its weight and in true Brit tradition I always support the underdog.
I know full well there are another set of conditions where the RR would win and I have a great respect for that vehicle.
I was just demonstrating to my London based friend that the RR is not invincible and that weight becomes a factor that overrules other effects such as choice of tyre or diff locks.
On sticky clay soils the tread of most off road tyres will fill up and not clear. These soils are the kind that when you walk across the ploughed land in your wellies in the right conditions they will end up weighing twice as much and leave you spending ages trying to clean the glue like substance off before you return to your nice clean car!
I am not sure what tyres he had on but I know they were all season.
The Panda has Michelin town and country which seem to clear a lot better than some of the more knobbly ones.
But the real point here is that the Panda never cut through to the clay as it was not heavy enough
I know full well there are another set of conditions where the RR would win and I have a great respect for that vehicle.
I was just demonstrating to my London based friend that the RR is not invincible and that weight becomes a factor that overrules other effects such as choice of tyre or diff locks.
On sticky clay soils the tread of most off road tyres will fill up and not clear. These soils are the kind that when you walk across the ploughed land in your wellies in the right conditions they will end up weighing twice as much and leave you spending ages trying to clean the glue like substance off before you return to your nice clean car!
I am not sure what tyres he had on but I know they were all season.
The Panda has Michelin town and country which seem to clear a lot better than some of the more knobbly ones.
But the real point here is that the Panda never cut through to the clay as it was not heavy enough
I have level areas on the farm here where I can demonstrate the effect of a vehicle that is too heavy for the conditions and it does not matter how many electrical goodies or self locking diffs or traction controls you have. Tyres can make a big difference but even they are not invincible.
Although these pictures are in the dry, it was a seriously steep slope and again shows where the little car's low weight and no front/rear overhang, gives it a tremendous climbing ability.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/qqrZF3hj.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/6Jhak0VX" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/6Jhak0VX.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/JVOYr7nh" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/JVOYr7nh.jpg)
I will try and dig out the pictures of it towing out a Land rover Defender!
Although these pictures are in the dry, it was a seriously steep slope and again shows where the little car's low weight and no front/rear overhang, gives it a tremendous climbing ability.
I will try and dig out the pictures of it towing out a Land rover Defender!
Impasse said:
Hopefully there'll be a Range Rover nearby that can pull the car out.
Nah, not up to the job so we had to commission "Sandringham Sidney" a 6x6 3.5 litre V8 made by Hotspur Cars of Sandringham and full six wheel drive.
On a previous occasion with one of the other Pandas, I drove into a snow drift and was completely stuck. Bit too enthusiastic with Sidney and the result was the whole tow bar complete with bumper and box section which was spot welded to the rear floor, came away from the poor little Panda, leaving a few ripped trailer socket wires dangling......
Martin4x4 said:
That looks pretty cool, can you post a picture (or explanation) of the rear transmission arrangement?
It is standard Stage I V8 with de tuned engine driving the Mk 1 Range Rover box with high and low, Fairey overdrive on back of box so 16 forward speeds. Air locking central diff to mid axle via a single prop shaft which then takes the drive through the axle and out of the rear casing to a short prop shaft to a standard rear axle. No diff locks on any axle though.
skyrover said:
The problem with the panda is ground clearance and articulation.
Lift the panda and stick some suzuki axles under the thing and it would be pretty damn good
The problem with high ground clearance and articulation are steep side slopes where the low centre of gravity of the Panda helps.Lift the panda and stick some suzuki axles under the thing and it would be pretty damn good
The huge weight difference also helps in these wet grass conditions.
Pandas are usually able to straddle deep ruts as they are so narrow.
Ultimately it is horses for courses and there are an equal amount of scenarios where the big 4x4 will win, particularly wading deepish water and heavy load carrying and towing.
I could easily design a course here on the farm in the woods where only a Panda or a trials machine would make it. Tight turning circles, steep climbs, side slopes, narrow gaps and low branches (big ones!)
Someone else would design one where the Panda is stuck at the first obstacle (the river!)
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