If you could only have one Mountain Vehicle to go skiing, hiking or whatever with what would it be and what would you change?
Regardless of what you choose what would you add that could be added to any vehicles?
Vehicle requirements
- Power for passing and going up hills
- Handling for getting through winding mountainous roads
- Capacity for handling gear, passengers, kids and dogs
- High Output lights for night driving
- Good windshield wipers for driving in Storms
- Good Winter and All weather tires
- Ski Box
- Good Stereo
- Lots of Cup Holders
- Ground Clearance
- Full Size spare tire
My Choice
Land Rover Discovery 2 lifted with 4.6 V8 built with the following
- Performance Kent Camshaft
- Ported and Polished Heads
- Magnaflow Exhaust
- ARP Studs
- Tornado Systems ECU Performance Reprogram
- Heated Windshield
- Custom Front Steel bumper coated with Linex
- Kingone 9.5 ton wireless remote Winch with Synthetic rope
- Terra Firma Rock Sliders with steps
- Packasport fiber glass Ski Box
- Nokian Hakkapelitta LT2 Studded Tires for Winter 265/75/R16
- Cooper Discovery ST Tires for Summer 265/75/R16
- Aux input added to stereo
- Rebuilt driveshafts with grease-able nipples
- QT Differential Guards
- 2.5" Suspension lift with Brit Part Medium Duty Springs and Terra Firma Shock (I had Brit Part Super Gaz shocks but they failed rather quickly.)
- Stainless Steel braided Brake lines
- Cross Drilled and slotted rotors
- EBC Green Stuff Brake Pads
- Red Line ZDDP additive with flat tappetted camshafts
Why:
- Power...the sound and performance of a tuned british V8 has to be experienced once in everyones life
- Handling....the light aluminum bodies of the Land Rover Discovery 2 combined with the planted feel of a heavy AWD system makes the windy mountain roads a pleasure to drive
- Capacity....how many other cars can you carry multiple weeks of ski gear for two adults, two kids and a dog and still be able to move around the inside of the vehicle when parked without opening the doors to get out? Discovery 2. There is even a 6th and 7th seat that can be accessed by using a rear step which my children's grandparents can use to get in the truck.
- Cupholders....So many drinks available from the drivers seat which is a must on long trips
- Ground Clearance.....You never know what you might have to drive over on a mountain road
What would I change on any Mountain Vehicle?
- Lights need to be HID (High Intensity Discharge) lights in this current day and age as there are so many options out there for so many vehicles. This is an important safety feature in the mountains
- Tires.....Nokian Hakkapelitta Studded for the winter on any vehicle without question. The pinnacle of performance in the winter. I am little less picky about summer tires but they shouldn't be too soft in order to maintain handling and prolong wear
- Ski Box....Of all ski boxes like Thule, Yakima, Inno or Packasport I love Packasport as they are just so rigid. They are lined with Felt inside so you don't hear anything rattling around on top of your car and they don't flex when the wind hits them or at high speed which doesn't affect your handling. Because they open from the rear it is great to pair them with a vehicle that has a casement style rear door as it makes loading and unloading a breeze.
What would you choose.......?
