Ah ok makes sense.
300bhp/ton
Well-Known Member
In a word. Yes & No
But let me explain.
It would catch and damage the rear bumper a lot. To the point that I didn't want to take it on that sort of terrain. It would also have caught the towbar a lot, so I wouldn't drive off road with it on (not a biggy, but a valid point). My p38 does have a nice colour coded rear bumper, which does seem to have a skirt or lower portion not on the regular black bumpers. So may not be an issue for all.
The sidesteps would also take a beating. But to be fair you could remove them.
However driving over the same terrain would result in lots of bangs, bumps and impacts underneath. It would also get beached on the small hummock and the top of the steeper incline. In fact the latter it didn't like going up at all. This was using it in the raised off road ride height setting. It would have been pointless trying in the standard height. However I would say that it rides the terrain more comfortable on the coils than with the air suspension fully raised. And I think it looks to flex a little better also. Likely because on the raised setting the airbags have very high pressure in them, which translates to a very high spring rate.
So, to be more accurate. It could cross the terrain before hand. But it was uncomfortable, damage stuff, sometimes got stuck and made you wince quite a lot when doing it. Now it feels planted and highly capable and is a joy to drive over the same terrain.
I'm sure with removal of the vulnerable bits the stock setup could be made to work. But the long wheel base, big over hang and relatively small tyres would still give you relatively poor breakover and departure angles. So hitting the underside and getting beached would still be real possibilities.
A higher lift on air would likely give similar results. Although having the air springs super hard for an increased lift is a negative off road in terms of suspension compliance and travel. There are other ways to lift them. So I'm not saying coils are the only answer here. But they have markedly improved it off road.
I don't really have any good footage of it before. Here is a vid, it's not quite the same bit of terrain. But that's because I wouldn't drive it on that bit any longer. You can see this terrain is much tamer, but you can see how bouncy the ride is and can hear it catching underneath.
Here is another p38 on the same terrain. It has off road tyres and the EAS re-programmed for a bit more clearance.
RangeRoller dt
Well-Sprung Member
Looking at the articulation on your red one compared to mine those bumps are higher than they seem on the vid.
In a word. Yes & No
But let me explain.
It would catch and damage the rear bumper a lot. To the point that I didn't want to take it on that sort of terrain. It would also have caught the towbar a lot, so I wouldn't drive off road with it on (not a biggy, but a valid point). My p38 does have a nice colour coded rear bumper, which does seem to have a skirt or lower portion not on the regular black bumpers. So may not be an issue for all.
The sidesteps would also take a beating. But to be fair you could remove them.
However driving over the same terrain would result in lots of bangs, bumps and impacts underneath. It would also get beached on the small hummock and the top of the steeper incline. In fact the latter it didn't like going up at all. This was using it in the raised off road ride height setting. It would have been pointless trying in the standard height. However I would say that it rides the terrain more comfortable on the coils than with the air suspension fully raised. And I think it looks to flex a little better also. Likely because on the raised setting the airbags have very high pressure in them, which translates to a very high spring rate.
So, to be more accurate. It could cross the terrain before hand. But it was uncomfortable, damage stuff, sometimes got stuck and made you wince quite a lot when doing it. Now it feels planted and highly capable and is a joy to drive over the same terrain.
I'm sure with removal of the vulnerable bits the stock setup could be made to work. But the long wheel base, big over hang and relatively small tyres would still give you relatively poor breakover and departure angles. So hitting the underside and getting beached would still be real possibilities.
A higher lift on air would likely give similar results. Although having the air springs super hard for an increased lift is a negative off road in terms of suspension compliance and travel. There are other ways to lift them. So I'm not saying coils are the only answer here. But they have markedly improved it off road.
I don't really have any good footage of it before. Here is a vid, it's not quite the same bit of terrain. But that's because I wouldn't drive it on that bit any longer. You can see this terrain is much tamer, but you can see how bouncy the ride is and can hear it catching underneath.
Here is another p38 on the same terrain. It has off road tyres and the EAS re-programmed for a bit more clearance.
Good example of how the plastic bumper cover cones off there.
300bhp/ton
Well-Known Member
Yeah, the ground isn't extreme by any means. But it has some good cross axle locations and enough height you could tip something over if you wanted. Can stop an 80" coiler CCV motor on the right spots on it. And if it's wet and muddy it is quite slick. Fun little bit to mess about on and try suspension mods.
Same location, just less grass and more mud.
RangeRoller dt
Well-Sprung Member
Thats not really that off road and just like some normal roads when I use mine in Russia except its usually wet and muddy but enough said. The P38 4.6 is a beast. nice to see it being used for what it was designed for.
Bagshot
Well-Known Member
Today I convinced someone to buy a 2002 4.6 advertised for £1900. But...on coils.( Forgive me.!) But it was tidy and like to think, I saved another one.
Then, someone bizarrely offered me a V8 (unknown capacity) 1995. None runner, SS exhaust, no rust rear tailgate, grubby but tidy, but again on coils (Ba###ds !) and slightly curious..caramel leather interior.! Been stood 5 years. I Seem to have been here before. Guy said "If you can move it, take it away.."oooh... tempting..!! (Can I save them all..?)
Then, someone bizarrely offered me a V8 (unknown capacity) 1995. None runner, SS exhaust, no rust rear tailgate, grubby but tidy, but again on coils (Ba###ds !) and slightly curious..caramel leather interior.! Been stood 5 years. I Seem to have been here before. Guy said "If you can move it, take it away.."oooh... tempting..!! (Can I save them all..?)
Go for it I was looking at 8 being broken up today for parts, Heart braking
Bagshot
Well-Known Member
Don't get me started..filling up here..Go for it I was looking at 8 being broken up today for parts, Heart braking
I know I really liked one of them but alas
Is that the white one that was on Ebay a few weeks ago? Trying to remember where it was. Fareham?
Bagshot
Well-Known Member
The 2002 was in Devon, the 1995 is in Somerset. The 2002 is going home to Wales
Loads of them out there at the moment. Like you say, you cannot save them all.
RangeRoller dt
Well-Sprung Member
Remember the one with gearbox blew up and wanted it to ‘go to a good home’ said I could have it cheap?
Turned out they meant £5G!
Pfft
That would be one bloody good home
Turned out they meant £5G!
Pfft
That would be one bloody good home
Bagshot
Well-Known Member
The 2002 is heading somewhere in South Wales is that near you..?? he might benefit from some knowledgeable advice and a look over
Don't say it! They'll hear you.
Batteries are nonsense but I wish fuel cell technology would get a shake on.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
Billions are now being poured into Hydrogen research. The Dutch are producing it and oxygen by electrolysis using waste energy from aeolians. Most petrol engined cars can be converted to run on Hydrogen much as they can be converted to run on LPG which would be a very low pollution route as it would save perfectly good cars from being scrapped. For EV's. Hydrogen fuel cells will I'm sure turn out to be the way forward. Germany are certainly committed to that route especially for trucks. As you say, batteries are a dead end, there is not the generating or distribution capacity to support masses of battery powered cars.
