Land Rover ground clearance
Discussion
Just been following a Land Rover Discovery & have observed this a few times. There's a lot of car that hangs down beneath the bodywork, especially the suspension arms, which is really surprising, as I would say ground clearance would be a major factor that determines off road ability.
I know theses things are very competent off road, but does this not hinder their use?
I also know that most never see mud or grass beneath their tyres, so isn't an issue for the ones used for the school run!
I know theses things are very competent off road, but does this not hinder their use?
I also know that most never see mud or grass beneath their tyres, so isn't an issue for the ones used for the school run!
If it's on air suspension you can raise it up for off-road forays; as it's not a beam axle anymore the ground clearance in the middle of the vehicle will increase significantly when raised to full height. The one you saw would have been in the lower position to optimise on-road handling.
When you think about it, any vehicle will run out of ground clearance eventually, you just have to drive to the conditions and know what to avoid, for what most people use their Discovery for off-road the ground clearance is adequate.
When you think about it, any vehicle will run out of ground clearance eventually, you just have to drive to the conditions and know what to avoid, for what most people use their Discovery for off-road the ground clearance is adequate.
clearance doesn't always need to be across the whole of underneath the car - e.g. driving through a field - along tractor ruts - you need more clearance in the middle - so the car could have for example an offset diff to allow clear space in the middle - other objects they will go over may need more space in terms of break-away angles (fron and rear sections underneath - so these will also be clearer... then the car may have air suspension to raise it further (modern disco will) - you will be amazed at what one of these as standard can get over!
so basically - the positioning of bits hanging down is deliberate to maximise clearance where needed...
so basically - the positioning of bits hanging down is deliberate to maximise clearance where needed...
As above - most modern LRs have adjustable ride heights for different terrains - if you were to jack up a RR or Disco to it's full off-road height it would have plenty of ground clearance but utterly diabolical at speed on the tarmac.
As an interesting point, the older beam axle Disco 1s/2s/Defenders only have about 8 inches of clearance between mother earth and their lowest point (diff casings) - not much more than a Freelander 1 or Subaru Forester - so physical height off of the ground is but one of many different bits of geometry that come into it.
As an interesting point, the older beam axle Disco 1s/2s/Defenders only have about 8 inches of clearance between mother earth and their lowest point (diff casings) - not much more than a Freelander 1 or Subaru Forester - so physical height off of the ground is but one of many different bits of geometry that come into it.
Most air suspension landys have a few different height settings.
Normal is what you see day to day.
Access lowers it 2 inches.
Off road height lifts it 2 inches above normal height.
The car keeps in reserve “extended” height, which lifts it a further 2 inches if you bottom out in off road height.
It also has “super extended” which is a further 2 inches again.
You can buy aftermarket kits that allow you to lift the car further than off height.
One I’ll be fitting my car next year can let it lift itself 5 inches higher than off road height at its highest setting.
Generally the car won’t go above off road height unless you’ve ground out.
Or, have driven into deep water, started to float with all 4 wheels off the ground and the cars realised that and the cars went to super extended to try and get the wheels to touch the ground again.....
Ask me how I know that...
Normal is what you see day to day.
Access lowers it 2 inches.
Off road height lifts it 2 inches above normal height.
The car keeps in reserve “extended” height, which lifts it a further 2 inches if you bottom out in off road height.
It also has “super extended” which is a further 2 inches again.
You can buy aftermarket kits that allow you to lift the car further than off height.
One I’ll be fitting my car next year can let it lift itself 5 inches higher than off road height at its highest setting.
Generally the car won’t go above off road height unless you’ve ground out.
Or, have driven into deep water, started to float with all 4 wheels off the ground and the cars realised that and the cars went to super extended to try and get the wheels to touch the ground again.....
Ask me how I know that...
LandRoverManiac said:
As above - most modern LRs have adjustable ride heights for different terrains - if you were to jack up a RR or Disco to it's full off-road height it would have plenty of ground clearance but utterly diabolical at speed on the tarmac.
As an interesting point, the older beam axle Disco 1s/2s/Defenders only have about 8 inches of clearance between mother earth and their lowest point (diff casings) - not much more than a Freelander 1 or Subaru Forester - so physical height off of the ground is but one of many different bits of geometry that come into it.
Yep. In a beam axle vehicle as a wheel goes over an obstruction, the whole axle including the differential is lifted too. The 8 inches or whatever clearance below the diff is only relevent if the wheels are lower than where the diff is, in deep ruts for example. My Defender is lifted two inches, and I have never caught the diff on anything, and I off road a fair bit. As an interesting point, the older beam axle Disco 1s/2s/Defenders only have about 8 inches of clearance between mother earth and their lowest point (diff casings) - not much more than a Freelander 1 or Subaru Forester - so physical height off of the ground is but one of many different bits of geometry that come into it.
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