1972 SIII upgrades?

[LaneRover]

Never heard of it but I'll look! And for those of you who like to read, I happen to be a novelist and most of my books feature roadtrips in the Southwest! A new one just came out last week, look online on Amazon for Sarah Leamy!

ANd Chuckstp - I think I'll try a thinner back cushion tomorrow and see how that helps, great idea.

It was my favorite book as a child and bought one for my daughter soon after she was born :-) Right now its the only book she says the title of!

I'll give a look for your books - loved taking road trips when I lived in San Diego.

[darbsclt]

Hi Sarah,

I can echo much of what others have said (and you have said yourself) about the unique character of these vehicles. While many owners rely on their Series Land Rovers daily, my Gracie isn't my "daily driver." Instead, she is an errand runner... a picnic in the park... a load the dogs up for a run (or visit to the vet) vehicle. She is my "make me smile" vehicle. As such... I'd hate to let her go. Here are some suggestions to help you smile more with Shorty.

Isolation...
- You might consider joining the Birmabright Brotherhood HERE. It's free... and might help you overcome your "Landy Loneliness." I've only met one other Series owner in Charlotte... so I understand your feeling of isolation.
- You may also look for British/MG/Triumph car clubs in your area. For example: HERE, and HERE. Often times, they will adopt other orphaned marques into their fold.
- Finally, you might check out the "Guns & Rovers" forum, HERE.
It's seems to be one of the most active/helpful domestic forums for Series owners I've found.

Comfort...
- Sound/Vibration... Dynamat, SecondSkin, etc... not cheap, but relatively easy to apply and can really help dampen the noise. Areas to consider... under hood, inside doors/floor/footwell/bulkhead, seatbox/rear bulkhead, tub floor. You can mix/match/layer products... I've also used a dense Closed Cell Foam (CCF) pad on the tub floor... as well as a heat barrier on the under side of the hood.
- Driving position... I know plenty of folks who switched over to Defender seats, HERE. If you prefer keeping things original, I've been told that simply adding Seat Risers HERE, can be a BIG help (sort of like sitting on a phonebook).
- Tires... I second the "Skinny Tire" recommendation found in an earlier post. Investing in a set of 7.5 x 16 tires was the best thing I did for Gracie thus far. I love everything about them (except the cost), HERE
- Parabolics... Again, I don't have experience with THESE... but I hear they are wonderful.

Reliability...
- No brilliant words of wisdom here but a cliche from Ben Franklin seems apt "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"... learn to (or have a trusted mechanic) keep up with all the required maintenance. Like an airline pilot... I always conduct a brief "pre-flight" check before leaving home (mostly to check fluid levels and for unexpected leaks... hub seals/brakes/master-slave cylinders... I also ALWAYS check the feel of the brakes prior to pulling out of the drive.

Best of luck!

[bugeye88]

Sleam,

You've got the idea! Just keep the idea of how great and rare these vehicles are, and keep innovating. You will alway appreciate the pure experience of a Landy, and so will the Pups. I'm 6' 1" and still manage to fit OK. I also collect vintage cars and modern Porsches, so I guess I'm a bit hard to pin down on what I love the most, other than to say I just love cars and Trucks. My 68 Bugeye holds a special place in my heart for sure! The people on these pages with the same inclination will always be here to help and support... Keep the faith!

Cheers,

Rob
Bugeye88

[sleam]

Anyone who has read the best book ever written - "Go, Dog, Go" will know that dogs can drive . . .

Never heard of it but I'll look! And for those of you who like to read, I happen to be a novelist and most of my books feature roadtrips in the Southwest! A new one just came out last week, look online on Amazon for Sarah Leamy!

ANd Chuckstp - I think I'll try a thinner back cushion tomorrow and see how that helps, great idea.

[sleam]

Sleam:

From the picture you posted with you and your dogs, you seem to have been born to own a Series. I suspect it suits your personality and your lifestyle. I own four Land Rovers and a Jag, but my '65 SIIA, now 50, is my favorite, however it is a difficult choice between it and my FC101. My Jag was built for speed; my SIIA was built for Saturdays.

Use it for what it is, a slow, noisy, refreshing escape from the vehicles of today. Use it to slow down on a Saturday! Enjoy the conversations with strangers who wish they owned one. My girlfriend and her border collie love it! It is their choice for a trek to the mountains.

Don't sell it, I think it suits you.........

Thanks for that!
Solution focused that I am - here is a photo of me working with the sound insulation. A pair of construction grade earmuffs. Working with the cold, a hat, thick coat, gloves and fleece lined jeans. To work with my fear of breaking down with three dogs (Like I did on a main highway in Colorado in summer), take just one dog. The knees, roll up a sweatshirt and prop it under my thighs to hold legs in position. I'm working on it as you can tell.
Thanks everyone for reminding me why I drive Shorty!

[LaneRover]

Anyone who has read the best book ever written - "Go, Dog, Go" will know that dogs can drive . . .

[chuckstp]

I have a similar problem with the leg position and clearly expect the same issue if I ever drive my IIA (which isn't running yet) any distance. One thing I expect to play with when I get that far is to get a thinner back cushion for the seat and possibly a thicker one for seat itself. I have a small boat and even though it has no foot controls, I find it much more comfortable to sit upon a life-jacket or other seat cushion when I am driving it. If I don't, my hamstrings tend to cramp up on me after any time sitting unless I am able to stretch my legs.

[johnny2rovers]

Cherish the Series........

Sleam:

From the picture you posted with you and your dogs, you seem to have been born to own a Series. I suspect it suits your personality and your lifestyle. I own four Land Rovers and a Jag, but my '65 SIIA, now 50, is my favorite, however it is a difficult choice between it and my FC101. My Jag was built for speed; my SIIA was built for Saturdays.

Use it for what it is, a slow, noisy, refreshing escape from the vehicles of today. Use it to slow down on a Saturday! Enjoy the conversations with strangers who wish they owned one. My girlfriend and her border collie love it! It is their choice for a trek to the mountains.

Don't sell it, I think it suits you.........

[sleam]

sleam,

As far as modern Jeeps and Series Landy's....
Two completely different vehicles and driving experiences. I would say few of us own Series Landy's because they are practicle every day vehicles or have all the modern bells and whistles. They do have a mechanical/tactile experience missing in modern trucks. It's kind of the point I think. I'm 64 and have a 2012 Rubicon, and they are indeed a marvelous machine for transportation and off road. It is not as involving and fun from many standpoints as my Series 2a Bugeye though. I can also work on it without a computer or special tools. I sold the Series 2a once and bought it back a few years later, as I just plain missed it. So sleam , it depends what you really are looking for as far as an on and off road vehicle practicality or a vintage vehicle experience. Either route, enjoy the ride.

Cheers,
Rob
Bugeye88

Thanks Rob, You're right, they are two different driving experiences. I like the variety to be honest. I mostly commute on my DR650 bike to work - but now it's too cold. The 4Runner I bought last year has become the camper, good to take dogs, tent etc out into the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. I just feel like I neglect poor Shorty, but maybe I'll just do a few things to make it slightly easier on me and use it to visit friends in town, get coffee. I think it'd help if i had a few other Series owners around, more of a community? Writing on here helps for a bigger perspective though. Thanks again, Sleam

[bugeye88]

sleam,

As far as modern Jeeps and Series Landy's....
Two completely different vehicles and driving experiences. I would say few of us own Series Landy's because they are practicle every day vehicles or have all the modern bells and whistles. They do have a mechanical/tactile experience missing in modern trucks. It's kind of the point I think. I'm 64 and have a 2012 Rubicon, and they are indeed a marvelous machine for transportation and off road. It is not as involving and fun from many standpoints as my Series 2a Bugeye though. I can also work on it without a computer or special tools. I sold the Series 2a once and bought it back a few years later, as I just plain missed it. So sleam , it depends what you really are looking for as far as an on and off road vehicle practicality or a vintage vehicle experience. Either route, enjoy the ride.

Cheers,
Rob
Bugeye88

[Escargo]

If my right leg starts to cramp, which it can on a long stretch, I often switch legs and put my left foot on the gas for abit. I have only a 30" inseam but would like more legroom also. Although I have used the hand throttle on occasion.

[sleam]

Heater would be nice! Oh, and working wipers. A hot water bottle on the lap works for a while though and it's NM - it doesnt rain!

[jac04]

I'm back and forth. ... Sheesh, it's hard!

That's for sure! When I sold my Lightweight, my kids were crying as it was loaded into the enclosed trailer for its trip to Minnesota. However, we get way more use out of the Rubicon and they got over it pretty quick. Seat belts for 4 people, air bags, a decent heater, air conditioning, and the kids can still climb all over it without hurting it. Heck, my wife even goes places in it!!

Don't get me wrong, a D90 would be awesome, but I just can't see me bashing through the woods with it like the Rubicon. I also can't see me NOT owning another land Rover at some point.

[sleam]

I'll preface this by saying I have really enjoyed my Series Land Rovers over the years, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss owning a Rover just a little, but...

I'm 46. I've restored 3 Series vehicles over the past 25 years . My back hurts. My knees hurt. Sometimes my neck hurts. I was ready to stop working on vehicles and actually go have some fun with them. My original plan was to buy a 97 D90 (automatic transmission). After looking for a while, I ended up ordering a new 2014 Rubicon X (now called the Hard Rock). Automatic transmission, 2-door, premium soft top, locking diffs F&R, electronic sway bar disconnect, rock sliders, steel bumpers, heated leather seats, nav & 20 gig hard drive w/ 6.5" touch screen, etc. I absolutely love it so far. It cruises nicely on the highway, and is incredible off-road. Aftermarket support is awesome, with excellent price & availability for almost anything you want.

Go check one out. Looks like a 4-door would suit you well for the long trips w/ dogs.

I know! I know! I have a automatic 4Runner 4x4 that i drive mostly. That's kind of what made me think I should just sell the rover but the other rover friends of mine (online though, no one near me!) all suggested to upgrade and keep it. I'm back and forth. Maybe I'll just commit for another year and then decide? Sheesh, it's hard! Thanks for the ideas though...

[jac04]

..what would you do to make it easier on a 47 yr old landscapers knees?? ... I might as well sell and get something new, right? ... So I'm asking, what would you do? ...

I'll preface this by saying I have really enjoyed my Series Land Rovers over the years, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss owning a Rover just a little, but...

I'm 46. I've restored 3 Series vehicles over the past 25 years . My back hurts. My knees hurt. Sometimes my neck hurts. I was ready to stop working on vehicles and actually go have some fun with them. My original plan was to buy a 97 D90 (automatic transmission). After looking for a while, I ended up ordering a new 2014 Rubicon X (now called the Hard Rock). Automatic transmission, 2-door, premium soft top, locking diffs F&R, electronic sway bar disconnect, rock sliders, steel bumpers, heated leather seats, nav & 20 gig hard drive w/ 6.5" touch screen, etc. I absolutely love it so far. It cruises nicely on the highway, and is incredible off-road. Aftermarket support is awesome, with excellent price & availability for almost anything you want.

Go check one out. Looks like a 4-door would suit you well for the long trips w/ dogs.