Off-roading in the winter time in Iceland is based on using big tires to be able to float on the snow. If you have the right size of tires and decrease the air pressure in tires (even down to 2-3 psi) you can drive cross the highland and over the glaciers. For more information see 4x4OffRoads.com.
For the Defender 38" tires gives a good result. Here are some pictures of a modification project on a Defender. Before it was running on 35" Mud Terrain tires but is now driving on 38" Denman Ground Hawg. Pictures on the top are before modification, on the bottom is after.
The 35" Mud Terrain tires on the upper, on the lower you see the same Defender on 38" Denman Ground Hawg.
Rear suspension lifted 10 cm (4") by moving the coil spring seat 10 cm down.
Rear lower link seat.
Upper link mounting bracket moved down 10 cm.
Radius arm bracket.
Front suspension lifted by putting 10 cm aluminum lift kit. The shock absorber mounting is shortened by 10 cm.
It is necessary to lower the cross rod assembly. This is possible by changing the drop arm and mounting the cross rod assembly from below. Here the drop arm ball joint is removed and a ball joint is placed in the cross rod assembly. A longer cross rod is needed.
Pan hard rod mounting is also lowered by making a new bracket.
This article was submitted by Skuli H. Skulason from Mountainfriends.com.
