Klaas Bals' Blog

When driving through deep ruts or over rocks you always have the risk of damaging the bottom of your vehicle. For older Land Rover models, there is a variety of protection available. For a relatively new model as the Discovery 3, this isn't the case. I've been looking for this from the beginning when I just owned my car, and there wasn't much to choose from back then.

Now, there starts to be some choice in what's available. Time for an overview of the underbody protection for a Land Rover Discovery 3.

ASFIR

ASFIR has fairly complete ground protection in 6mm aluminum. I've found some pictures of their stuff at TBR and also from a Discovery 3 owner. Some people think it's not strong enough.

Rasta 4x4

Rasta 4x4 has a full underbody protection set. Apparently, this is the producer of the underbody protection sold by Matzker, Bearmach and Outback.

Also very interesting are the Lower Door Guards, to replace the factory fitted plastic guards, that are scratched and scraped very easily.

Also new to me are the Radiator protection covers. Thanks to David for the tip and to the information received from Life from Rasta.

Matzker (made by Rasta)

The Rasta kit can be bought from Matzker

Bearmach (made by Rasta)

Although I couldn't find it on their website Bearmach also sells the Rasta underbody protection. I did see an advertisement of them on the backcover of the Land Rover Owner International magazine of February 2007.

Outback Import (made by Rasta)

Outback Import also sell the stuff from Rasta. The Land Magazine of January-February 2007 has an article on the Discovery 3 of Geoland, a Belgian Land Rover specialist that explains it has an Outback Import underbody protection.

Mantec

Mantec only makes front protection (so it only protects the front side: the radiator and the engine, that's why it's also called a 'sump guard').

Land Rover

Land Rover sells the version (made by Mantec) that can be combined with a winch, Mantec themselves only sell the non-winch version.

Conclusion

I would like to buy one of these sets, but my wife doesn't allow me to at this time (okay, it is quite expensive). I should try to do some more lobbying...

However, if I would by underbody protection now, I would go for the set of Rasta (including the Radiator protection and the sill protection plate).

If you have more information on Discovery 3 underbody protection, please let me know or leave a comment, so I can update this list.