Roel
Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 182
 
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With my Disco 1 Camel I always bent my rear bumper ends upwards when driving some serious terrain. Even that bad that I had to jump on the end before I could open the rear door.
How is your experience with the D3 rear bumper being high quality 'plastic'?
Thanks Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55TWP
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 Sun Sep 07 2008 3:52am |
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hernan1304
Joined: 28 Feb 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 388
 
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In my experience it's hard to damage the D3's rear bumper because the spare sits underneath and will hit first. However, it's not impossible and I've seen pictures to prove it. Kaymar makes a steel rear bumper that you might be interested in if you're going to be doing really serious stuff.
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| Sun Sep 07 2008 5:11am |
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90BHP
Joined: 18 Oct 2006
Location: Half way along the road on the right
Posts: 2044
 
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Dunc would be a good one to ask 
 "To finish first, one first has to finish ...."
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| Sun Sep 07 2008 7:20am |
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Roel
Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 182
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That's always my dilemma. It is a G4 so I want to keep it original as possible, but try to minimize Off-road damage. The steel Camel Trophy Disco 1 bumper was easy to fix. Just jump on the corners and they will be in reasonable shape.
But the D3 bumper looks a little funerable to me. Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55TWP
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| Sun Sep 07 2008 3:24pm |
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NoDo$h
Joined: 02 May 2006
Location: wear the fox hat?
Posts: 6629
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Dunc took his off by sliding into a hole way steeper than the book departure angle for the D3. After it happened the site marshalls (such as they were) came over to tell us that you're only meant to enter that hole from the other side, and then ideally only in a 90 or something modded for those kind of angles.
As mentioned above, a few clips and it was back on as good as new. ish. Carbon footprint? I neither know nor give a damn
DISCLAIMER: If you find a posting or message from me offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it. If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate.
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| Sun Sep 07 2008 8:17pm |
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90BHP
Joined: 18 Oct 2006
Location: Half way along the road on the right
Posts: 2044
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Have to say mine looked as good as new after 2 x renault clio's wrote themselves off driving into me at the same set of lights, 5 weeks apart . .
Also cost me one new clip - and the lad who hit me got his Dad to send me a £1 coin to pay for the clip  "To finish first, one first has to finish ...."
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| Sun Sep 07 2008 10:14pm |
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DG
Site Moderator
Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Location: In the pubic domain !
Posts: 15301
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I blew some bumper clips after dropping into a pit at the Hounds of the Baskevilles site ...you wouldn't notice after TFC twiddled with his leatherman though  Powered by TorqTune
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| Sun Sep 07 2008 10:17pm |
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disco4x4au
Joined: 19 Jan 2006
Location: Perth
Posts: 192
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In my experience, you can tear it off on departure, but as everyone has mentioned, it rarely damages the plastic, just breaks a few clips.
On really really serious off-roading, I take mine off first.
Cheers,
Gordon 2006 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, with lots of stuff
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| Mon Sep 08 2008 12:03am |
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Roel
Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 182
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That is about how I damage my Camel's rear bumper.
Here you can how my bumper is after jumping on it so I can open the back door again. Both sides bend up were the lights are in the bumper.
Here you can see how far it's actually bend up and still be able to open the door.
I think I have to find away to protect the G4D3's rear bumper or buy a bag off clips and keep that in the car. Because it looks like I will lose my rear bumper a few times. Hopefully the clips break and not the part were the clips connect to the rearbumper.  [/img] Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55TWP
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| Mon Sep 08 2008 9:10am |
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Desert Traveller
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Location: South East Queensland
Posts: 330
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After a while the plastic can be permanently damaged. I just gave up and fitted a Kaymar. 06 TDV6 SE with Extras
VW Eos TDI
Previously 01 TD5 and 94 TDI
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| Mon Sep 08 2008 11:37am |
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DiscoDunc
Joined: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 2990
 
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Thanks for bringing that back up guys  .
The rear bumper on the D3 is only cosmetic, but its quite tough.
If you do rip it off, dont be tempted to try and push it back on by brute force. if you do you'll break the clips that hold it on. Best to remove the wheel arches, rear lights then remove the bumper if you need to and refit.
You'll find it goes back into shape...... just like magic
I now leave my removeable towbar on as it protects the bumper but does'nt act like an anchor, it just slices through the mud etc. Duncan
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| Mon Sep 08 2008 11:55am |
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Roel
Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 182
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I don't think the towhitch will help a lot as that protects the middle but the problem is often the outer edges that land on the ground and ar pushed up/backwards.
Like what I think happened with Dunc's disco. It landed with the right corner on the ground and the rest off the disco continued forward/down. Roel
1997 Camel Trophy Disco ex-P101JWK
2005 G4 Disco 3 BN55TWP
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| Mon Sep 08 2008 3:27pm |
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Craig S-L
Joined: 16 Jul 2007
Location: Tring, Hertfordshire
Posts: 369
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Roel, my experience is that it is quite strong but gets filled up with mud (acts as a scoop), I have never bent it, but as per the previous comment I have landed on the spare a few times. IIRC the departure angle on the D3 is better than the D1 (and definitely better than the D2).
Also as the D3 has the split tailgate like the RR Calssic, it is unlikely you will not be able to get the back open somehow. Craig
2006 G4 Challenge V8 HSE
Media Support Vehicle Stage 1 & 2 Thailand and Laos
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| Mon Sep 08 2008 4:08pm |
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DiscoDunc
Joined: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 2990
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Quote:I don't think the towhitch will help a lot as that protects the middle but the problem is often the outer edges that land on the ground and ar pushed up/backwards.
The tow hitch doesnt prevent damage but it does help a lot. Since I have started leaving the tow hitch on I havnt suffered any bumper damage. So it must be working as I dont beleive in luck !! Duncan
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| Mon Sep 08 2008 4:12pm |
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