I have received a response in writing from Land Rover, basically they are standing by their verbal communication. In summary
1) The maximum on-road laden weight is 75kg, while the maximum off-road laden weight is 50 kg
2) Land Rover have not altered the fixings / production of roofs - the load bearing plates on Lee157's D3 are not standard and without the vehicles details they are unable to ascertain if they were fitted by Land Rover.
3) They are unable/unwilling to comment on the vehicles used in their advertising showing G4's and other D3's fitted with laden roof racks
In general it is a typical manufacturers cop-out.
My only comment to people buying or modifying a D3 for overseas travel use both on and off road is don't fit a roof rack and tent, go out and buy a Defender 90/110 or dare I say it a Toyota Landcruiser Troop carrier and sleep inside it.
I am now seriously considering having the vehicle modified to take a pop-up roof like on the Extec Defenders (http://extec-gmbh.de/website/pages/start.php) and Toyotas (http://toms-fahrzeugtechnik.eu/de/)Mike
so basically it is saying if you have a roof rack, don't stand on it when loading...and then only load it with a few kilos of gear...and if you go off road, only put a couple of small items up top (let alone a spare wheel, jerry cans etc...)The next American ex-pat that calls it a "truck" is going to find out what 2.7 tons feels like on their foot...
Club "yes, I too have had the EGR's replaced..."
Club "yes, I too have had the compressor replaced..."
Club "yes, I too once had the car at the dealer for a couple of weeksnearly 4 weeksover 4 weeks...5 weeks"
Club "yes, I too have had EPB failure..."
Club "yes, I too get mysterious bings and bongs..."
18th Aug 2010 11:29 am
caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Re: Landrovers Response
MELISCAT wrote:
2) Land Rover have not altered the fixings / production of roofs - the load bearing plates on Lee157's D3 are not standard and without the vehicles details they are unable to ascertain if they were fitted by Land Rover.
As far as anyone on this forum can assertain these fittings are standard. No one else on here has the same fixings as you as far as I can tell (but that is why i asked others to look at theirs). Did TFC have anything to say about the fixings? You can give my Vin number if you like to LR, PM me. But you may be better with some UK ones.
MELISCAT wrote:
3) They are unable/unwilling to comment on the vehicles used in their advertising showing G4's and other D3's fitted with laden roof racks
I bet they won't comment. They know under law you could argue "reasonable expectation" of performance.
MELISCAT wrote:
I am now seriously considering having the vehicle modified to take a pop-up roof like on the Extec Defenders (http://extec-gmbh.de/website/pages/start.php) and Toyotas (http://toms-fahrzeugtechnik.eu/de/)
Good idea but I don't think you would have any more problems with the roof loads now.
They are trying to get out of it and have not even checked the fitting. I wonder if it is a wider production issue involving more vehicles.
Only options are to get a solicitors letter or go to the press. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
18th Aug 2010 11:29 am
lee157
Member Since: 01 Oct 2008
Location: in the middle
Posts: 557
Hi Maliscat,
I've been on my hols for a few weeks, and have just read all the posts that have risen since it posted the pic on the first page.
I'm not aware that my D3 is a special one off or that it had any re-enforcement done to the roof supports areas.
I'll pm you my vin number to see it helps the process with LR.
Lee
18th Aug 2010 3:45 pm
DIEGUS
Member Since: 11 Nov 2008
Location: Arese (MI)
Posts: 1416
Sorry for my English .... but!!
If I look at the drawings for the installation of mini roof rails, I see that they do not discharge the burden on a large surface, but only on one point, which is to fix, in fact, between roof and rails, there is air! !Diego
20th Aug 2010 2:14 pm
lee157
Member Since: 01 Oct 2008
Location: in the middle
Posts: 557
Diegus,
That is exactly what it is like under the rail system, the rail sits on 3 points (4 points for the extended rails) approx 5mm above the gutter, the gutter is for water from the roof or glass to run along.
I just had to have mine all off to find a water leak in the roof during heavy rain, if anyone removes the rails it can let in water along the thread (as on mine), its worth putting a small dab of grease or loc tight to stop this happening.
Lee
21st Aug 2010 7:03 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50957
MELISCAT reading with interest. Not an expert but I'm not so sure this is a loading issue ...my mind keeps saying "body flexing forces" for some reason . Do you have a photo of the D3 with the rack fitted ?21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
That is exactly what it is like under the rail system, the rail sits on 3 points (4 points for the extended rails) approx 5mm above the gutter, the gutter is for water from the roof or glass to run along.
I just had to have mine all off to find a water leak in the roof during heavy rain, if anyone removes the rails it can let in water along the thread (as on mine), its worth putting a small dab of grease or loc tight to stop this happening.
Lee
According to Landrover the roof rails should have Loc-tite on the threads, when fitting the rails.
The body shop informs me that the rails fitted to my Disco 3 (which were factory fitted) do not sit on 3 points but are flush with the roof. All the expedition prep companies that I have spoken to always bond the rails to the roof when fitting them as an after marker accessory.Mike
MELISCAT reading with interest. Not an expert but I'm not so sure this is a loading issue ...my mind keeps saying "body flexing forces" for some reason . Do you have a photo of the D3 with the rack fitted ?
I agree with you but Land Rover do not.
I am going to send them another letter on the matter, but I do not think I will get a positive response.Mike
22nd Aug 2010 7:26 pm
DIEGUS
Member Since: 11 Nov 2008
Location: Arese (MI)
Posts: 1416
According to Landrover the roof rails should have Loc-tite on the threads, when fitting the rails.
The body shop informs me that the rails fitted to my Disco 3 (which were factory fitted) do not sit on 3 points but are flush with the roof. All the expedition prep companies that I have spoken to always bond the rails to the roof when fitting them as an after marker accessory.
I followed the logic of CarverD3!!
You know those are the assembly instructions for the Land Rover ..... but if they are wrong !!!???
According to those support instructions the punishment is only 3, and not a large surface, as logic ..... but if you say that those assembled from the house are fully in support, then........!!!!! I dont' know!!!Diego
ANother letter has gone off to Land Rover today, following the information sent to me by other members of the forum.
I don't expect to get a positive response, but may be Land Rover will get around to making sure all their literature-both electronic and paper gives the same load information.
By the way has anyone managed to find the roof loading information for the D3 in their owners manual?
I can't find it...strange Mike
25th Aug 2010 5:45 pm
caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
They need to answer the question of whether the fixings on yours are the correct fixings. And show evidence of the parts and numbers. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
26th Aug 2010 1:33 pm
2DISCO3ORNOT
Member Since: 27 Apr 2009
Location: at sea
Posts: 1209
Was about to buy two roof boxes to load up, so am watching this with disbelief, 50kgs offroad???? That doesnt even cover my 4 bikes going on holiday
26th Aug 2010 2:02 pm
whydahdvr
Member Since: 19 Aug 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 19
The load numbers I've seen for the LR cross bars and roof rack are 158 lbs. I'm rusty on my kg conversion but that does seem light, but enough for a load of plywood sheets or luggage. I would think that depending on the roof rack and framing of it, the number of connection points to distribute the load weight, you could increase that some.
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They know under law you could argue "reasonable expectation" of performance.
. Do you have a photo of the D3 with the rack fitted ?
