LT230 gear ratios

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mikerajjers

mikerajjers

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Bedford UK or Trnava SK
My LT230 is not in the best condition and I am thinking of changing it for an Aschcroft one.

They state that many people change from a 1.4 to a 1.2 on a TD5 Defender. However, they also offer a 1.0, 1.1 and 1.3. Are there any negatives if I were to go for a 1.1 for example? I understand that it won't be great for towing but I rarely tow with the Defender. I use it mostly for fun as a weekend offroad car. I would use it more if it was a bit quieter and a bit quicker on the motorway so I am very tempted to change the gearing.

Thanks
 
What size tyres are you running and are you remapped?

The taller the gearing generally the less pokey it'll feel and the more it'll blunt the acceleration. A stock Td5 should be able to run at motorway speeds already.

So it really comes down to what you are wanting from the vehicle. You'll probably get away with the 1.2:1 as you'll be geared the same as Disco 2 on 235/85 tyres. Any taller an you may find it won't pull well on hills or might even limit your top speed, especially if running at stock power levels.
 
I'm on 33's and a 1.2 on a mapped td5.

I'm thinking of going back to a 1.4 as hill starts especially when towing are not good. On the motorway however which is where it spends most of its life its miles better and the reason I haven't changed!
 
mikerajjers said:
My LT230 is not in the best condition and I am thinking of changing it for an Aschcroft one.

They state that many people change from a 1.4 to a 1.2 on a TD5 Defender. However, they also offer a 1.0, 1.1 and 1.3. Are there any negatives if I were to go for a 1.1 for example? I understand that it won't be great for towing but I rarely tow with the Defender. I use it mostly for fun as a weekend offroad car. I would use it more if it was a bit quieter and a bit quicker on the motorway so I am very tempted to change the gearing.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I know mine is a 200tdi, but having just put a disco 1.2 in mine, going from a 1.4, I wouldn’t do it again. I looked at a 1.3 from ashcrofts, but couldn’t justify the price tag.

For me, the biggest drawback with a 1.2 is the fact that 30 is too fast for 3rd, and too slow for 4th, and it now feels underpowered when going up some steep hills.
 
I've found the disco 1.2 box no problem in a standard 200tdi 110. (235/85s) , and it happily trundle along in 4th at 30 and if the engine has warmed up it will trundle in 5th on the flat. I've not had a problem with hills, even when going up to the steeper bits of Yorkshire . You just have to get used to being in a gear lower for hills.
It's great advantage, is cruising on good roads, it being much quieter , and I get 32mpg.
I've not had a problem towing either, although that so far has only been on comparatively flat roads.. I suspect to start on something very steep, with a full load starting in low gear ratio will be needed until you reach something easier.
 
I have a 1.2 transfer box in my 300tdi 110, it replaced a 1.6-1 box, it has 750 tyres.
I would say that 1.2-1 is as high as you would want to go with this set up and if you do a lot of towing with a big trailer, 1.4-1 would be better.
There is one particularly steep junction that I frequently exit while towing a horse box and find it easier to put it in low-range rather than fry the clutch.
I used a 1.2-1 box as it came with the Discovery that donated it's engine and it was screaming its bollox off at 60mph with the 1.6-1 box,( it did accelerate well though.)
 
I rarely tow anything with the defender...when i do its usually a light trailer up to 750kg. I think i will order the 1.2 eventually, but i'll think it over. Does anyone have experience of the sleeved casing and hd cross pins? Are they worth the extra expense?
 
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