2017 Land Rover Discovery – Luxurious Off-roader Disguised as a Mall Crawler

Land Rover brought back the Discovery nameplate to the U.S. market with the introduction of the third-generation model in late 2016. Sharing the platform with the Range Rover, the new Discovery received a more streamlined, modern look abandoning the signature boxy, very utilitarian shape of the previous generations.

The 2017 Land Rover Discovery is a perfect choice for overloading and moderate off-roading fans. Its interior is both plush and durable where it matters, which is great from both comfort and utilitarian standpoints. The air suspension offers smooth driving- on and off-road, and the drivetrain setup inspires confidence when conquering some challenging obstacles. Even if you don’t have much experience in off-road driving, the car will do the driving for you. It is packed with smart features and technological innovations allowing for better versatility, safety, and comfort.

Those were the main reasons why Lucas Barnett from Phoenix, AZ decided to go with this SUV as the daily driver that allows him to go anywhere and do everything he likes. No matter whether it’s camping on some remote site in the desert, mountain biking, or hiking, his trusted Dirty Disco will always offer great on-road comfort, impressive off-road performance resulting in ultimate versatility. Read the full story for more details on how Lucas has modified his rig to bring more gear and supplies for long camping trips.

How did you become interested in off-roading?

– It started when I purchased the Discovery. I was just getting into camping and realized that I had a fantastic offroad vehicle disguised as a mall crawler. As I started going further and further from the paved roads in the search for campsites, I fell in love with off roading.

Things sort of accelerated from there. I raced in the Mint 400 in the Trophy Lite class and finished 2nd place. I purchased a trailer that can go as far as (and probably further) into the bush than my Discovery.

“Things sort of accelerated from there. I raced in the Mint 400 in the Trophy Lite class and finished 2nd place”

Why did you choose this particular model for your project?

– At the time I purchased my Land Rover Discovery, I was working in Banking. I knew that I wanted to have something that was nice looking inside and out, while not sacrificing too much on off road performance. When I was looking at this particular vehicle, I quickly realized that the interior and the ride quality was important since most Overland driving is on pavement. I also loved the fact that it was a diesel for great mileage and had dual locking differentials for those tricky off road sections.

What inspired you to choose this modification style?

– I am a gear guy. I love having amenities out on the trail, while still focusing on utility of my gear and its organization. The Land Rover Discovery has a unique look and I wanted to preserve it by making modifications that were subtle and practical.

What challenges did you face while putting it together?

– The newest generation Land Rover Discovery does not have a large aftermarket. When compared to Jeeps or Toyotas, which have ample aftermarket options, the Discovery really only has two aftermarket providers. This was tough when trying to figure out how I was going to build this thing out.

One thing I wanted to try and avoid was wiring through the firewall. I found Trigger Wireless Control Systems which provided me a way around that. I mounted the wireless receiver in the engine bay and ran my lights directly to it. With my wireless remote in the cabin, I could have instant switches without the hassle of wiring.

What do you love about your vehicle?

– Mostly, I love that it drives like butter on the highway and can still tackle more technical trails. It is not winning any awards for rock crawling or departure and approach angles, but it has an impressive balance between comfort and performance.

Is it your daily or a weekend ride?

– Right now this is my daily driver. That is part of the reason I have not gone too far into the modifications. I want to keep it comfortable to drive when I am not headed to the trail.

Do you take it off road? If so, where and how often?

– Yes, my discovery has about 15,000 off road miles on it. A few times a month, I will head out on a trip with the goal of camping in remote, cool areas. It has been off road in every state west of Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.

SPECS – 2017 Land Rover Discovery

Engine specs, modifications

– This particular Discovery has the turbo diesel V6 which is relatively hard to find. It has ample power to tow my Turtleback Trailer uphill, off road as well as on the highway. Currently I have no modifications on the engine, but I am considering flashing the ECU to give me a little more engine performance.

Lift height and suspension modifications

– I used Lucky8 Off Road’s lift rod kit which allowed me to “lift” my air suspension by 2 inches. This gives me about 13 inches of “normal height” clearance, and 14-15 inches of “off road mode” clearance. I currently run OEM airbag suspension. It rides very plush on and off road.

Wheel specs

– The wheels on the Discovery and Trailer are OEM rims from Land Rover. They are 20’x 8.5′ inch and are wrapped in 285/55/r20 Nitto Terragrappler G2’s.

Exterior mods

-There are a lot of exterior mods on this vehicle that are specific to camping and gear carrying. I have a Frontrunner roof rack that holds my high lift jack, Maxtraxx and various other cases that hold recovery gear and smelly mountain biking gear. I have also installed a Weboost which is very convenient when further off the grid.

Up front, I added the Baja Designs LP6’s (which are extremely bright) and wired them through the 4 Plus Wireless Trigger system.

In the back I use the Rigd Supply Co Ultraswing tire carrier. It allows me to mount my spare tire, as well as fuel cans or a chainsaw bag.

Interior mods

– Interior mods are important for the utility of the storage space and gear for our trips. We use the Frontrunner drawer system which we typically reserve for clothing. We have also removed the passenger middle seat and made a custom platform to sit our cooler on top and other gear underneath.

Inside I also have the Garmin iOverlander mounted on the front windshield, along with a radar detector and my Garmin Inreach Explorer +

In order to tow the Turtleback Trailer safely, I have also installed the Redarc Tow Pro Elite. Very easy install and helps with on- and off-road braking performance with the trailer.

What are your future plans about this vehicle?

– There are not too many things I want to add to my rig as of now. I would like to beef up the underside protection as well as add some rock sliders. I frequently find myself on trails that require just a bit more clearance than I have!

Anything else you would like to share about your vehicle or about the off-roading in general?

– This community is full of awesome people and it is growing quickly. I have found that meeting new people has been one of the coolest parts about the community. Whether you’re just camping or searching for those really techy sections, you will find people that have the same mindset and interests as you.

One of the best things about this rig is the trailer. The Turtleback Trailer Expedition series has tons of amenities and can go just about anywhere. It has a full four-link suspension with custom tuned Icon Vehicle Dynamics shocks. It makes for a good ride on and off road.

Watch the progress and find out more about this Land Rover Discovery Td6 project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @dirty_discovery!

Stay tuned for more project reviews on Offroadium.com – Follow us on social media, and share this write-up if you enjoyed reading it!