2004 Discovery TD5, a.k.a "The Bear Bus"
Discussion
So after a lot of prevaricating, a few threads here and elsewhere, numerous visits to look at Jeep Grand Cherokees, discussions on 3rd car aesthetics with the girlfriend (she wanted something that had a high seta and looked "tough") I finally tracked down some Disco TD5s in manual, with dark leather and dark paint to view. The deadline was to have a dog wagon for our upcoming holiday in Cornwall, one that can also tow and launch our boat and that could be useful in Yorkshire snow.
The first one sounded ideal, the seller was going to hold it for me as I was going to view it the next morning at 8am. Unfortunately he didn't tell his son and he sold it in the meantime. So I went to view a couple more, ummed about for a couple of hours after viewing them both, decided to put an offer in on the cheaper one only to find it had been sold. After a pint in the pub this left me with one vehicle and pressure from the girlfriend not to "lose it" to someone else. A phone call and text later it was secured.
So after the joy of trains taking 4 1/2 hrs compared to what would take just over 2 in a car we now have a Discovery TD5 Landmark, just over 100k miles and most importantly it has had a new rear 1/3rd chassis (they tend to rot out). As it's a Land Rover, and a 13 year old one at that it has a few minor niggles to sort.
Obligatory petrol station shots on collection:
It was here that I discovered the fuel filler flap catch needs replacing, it took a fair bit of fiddling to get it closed!
The first one sounded ideal, the seller was going to hold it for me as I was going to view it the next morning at 8am. Unfortunately he didn't tell his son and he sold it in the meantime. So I went to view a couple more, ummed about for a couple of hours after viewing them both, decided to put an offer in on the cheaper one only to find it had been sold. After a pint in the pub this left me with one vehicle and pressure from the girlfriend not to "lose it" to someone else. A phone call and text later it was secured.
So after the joy of trains taking 4 1/2 hrs compared to what would take just over 2 in a car we now have a Discovery TD5 Landmark, just over 100k miles and most importantly it has had a new rear 1/3rd chassis (they tend to rot out). As it's a Land Rover, and a 13 year old one at that it has a few minor niggles to sort.
Obligatory petrol station shots on collection:
It was here that I discovered the fuel filler flap catch needs replacing, it took a fair bit of fiddling to get it closed!
On getting it home a few choice modifications were required to transform it into a dog transporter.
Firstly a dog guard, luckily one had been fitted previously so the brackets behind the rear seats and in the rear grab handles were already fitted, it was just a case of bolting the metal "ears" to the guard and sliding it in place, securing with the thumb twist screws that came with it.
The dog is only young, under 10 months, and still has a slight tendency to be car sick, so a cheap liner was sourced and slid in to place, the lip should be enough to retain vomit/mud/drool.
This was put to good use last weekend as we crossed North Yorkshire to drop the dog off with my dad, the dog was only sick twice.
This weekend's job is now to fix the fuel filler cap clip and investigate the u/s driver's door speaker.
Firstly a dog guard, luckily one had been fitted previously so the brackets behind the rear seats and in the rear grab handles were already fitted, it was just a case of bolting the metal "ears" to the guard and sliding it in place, securing with the thumb twist screws that came with it.
The dog is only young, under 10 months, and still has a slight tendency to be car sick, so a cheap liner was sourced and slid in to place, the lip should be enough to retain vomit/mud/drool.
This was put to good use last weekend as we crossed North Yorkshire to drop the dog off with my dad, the dog was only sick twice.
This weekend's job is now to fix the fuel filler cap clip and investigate the u/s driver's door speaker.
They make for steady progress, natural gait on a A roads is a comfy 55-60 and on dual carriageways/motorways (of the continental speed limited variety 
) 75 seems comfy. What has surprised me is that the centre of gravity feels lower than I would expect from the appearance of the vehicle. The cabin is also pretty light and airy as you sit quite high above the waist line, and it has two sunroofs. It is still a live axled ladder framed dinosaur so can feel a bit fidgety but is quieter/plusher than my VW T4 van and a surprisingly enjoyable place to be.
) 75 seems comfy. What has surprised me is that the centre of gravity feels lower than I would expect from the appearance of the vehicle. The cabin is also pretty light and airy as you sit quite high above the waist line, and it has two sunroofs. It is still a live axled ladder framed dinosaur so can feel a bit fidgety but is quieter/plusher than my VW T4 van and a surprisingly enjoyable place to be.It's had some more use, we took it down to Cornwall as dog transport (as well as the VW T4), ideal for going down the beach, frying halloumi for sandwiches and general duties.
And has been used for local mountain biking duties too.
And has been used for local mountain biking duties too.
Edited by TiminYorkshire on Friday 15th September 13:53
Edited by TiminYorkshire on Friday 15th September 13:54
TiminYorkshire said:
They make for steady progress, natural gait on a A roads is a comfy 55-60 and on dual carriageways/motorways (of the continental speed limited variety ) 75 seems comfy. What has surprised me is that the centre of gravity feels lower than I would expect from the appearance of the vehicle. The cabin is also pretty light and airy as you sit quite high above the waist line, and it has two sunroofs. It is still a live axled ladder framed dinosaur so can feel a bit fidgety but is quieter/plusher than my VW T4 van and a surprisingly enjoyable place to be.
As are most vehicles!! ) 75 seems comfy. What has surprised me is that the centre of gravity feels lower than I would expect from the appearance of the vehicle. The cabin is also pretty light and airy as you sit quite high above the waist line, and it has two sunroofs. It is still a live axled ladder framed dinosaur so can feel a bit fidgety but is quieter/plusher than my VW T4 van and a surprisingly enjoyable place to be.Nice disco OP, looks very clean.
And catching up a little more, I fixed the passenger side electric window mechanism, it was properly chewed up, but didn't fix the driver side bass speaker.
I started using this as my daily as the VW van was shonking about a bit and I had some CBA around fixing it (brakes and wheel bearings).
It's done a bit and been a few places last year/year before;
Race director/marshall/support crew for a half marathon I organised for a few friends in December 2019:
I went for a run myself in January 2020
Last week of the French ski season as you know what arrived....(there and back for the nay sayers)
Sunset reflections..
Lockdown stag do:
[video]https://i.imgur.com/gkB66II.mp4[/video]
Supporting Future-Mrs in Yorkshire on a self initiated trail marathon down the coast
And it has been collecting hay bales over the summer (socially distancing, can't do this work from home etc.. luckily didn't need to test my eyes)..
I still enjoy it, pretty agricultural handling wise but that makes it fun in this day and age.
I started using this as my daily as the VW van was shonking about a bit and I had some CBA around fixing it (brakes and wheel bearings).
It's done a bit and been a few places last year/year before;
Race director/marshall/support crew for a half marathon I organised for a few friends in December 2019:
I went for a run myself in January 2020
Last week of the French ski season as you know what arrived....(there and back for the nay sayers)
Sunset reflections..
Lockdown stag do:
[video]https://i.imgur.com/gkB66II.mp4[/video]
Supporting Future-Mrs in Yorkshire on a self initiated trail marathon down the coast
And it has been collecting hay bales over the summer (socially distancing, can't do this work from home etc.. luckily didn't need to test my eyes)..
I still enjoy it, pretty agricultural handling wise but that makes it fun in this day and age.
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