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Best of both worlds: Monocoque vs Ladder-on-Frame Offroaders

Why can't we have the best of both worlds - the better ride quality, lighter and fuel efficient monocoque with the ladder frame like ruggedness built-in for offroading?

BHPian vsrikkanth recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The new Landrover Defender has reignited the question, why can't we have the best of both worlds - the better ride quality, lighter and fuel efficient monocoque with the ladder frame like ruggedness built-in for offroading?

I am no expert but basic research always tends towards ladder frame chassis for tough off-roading applications while recommending monocoque for urban, highway use. Having seen such views from BHPians too, I am curious to know if this view changes/be reconsidered given that Rovers have chosen to go the unibody route.

How many of the stalwarts here would still feel that a ladder frame Fortuner/Endeavour is more rugged than a monocoque Defender and why?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

No doubt that the gap has gotten thinner. That said, body-on-frames have two advantages:

  • Far easier & cheaper to repair in case of damage than monocoques (not something that bothers Land Rovers or its rich customers).
  • Still more robust, abuse-friendly and overload-friendly.

For a hardcore 4x4, body-on-frame remains my preferred choice.

Land Rover's priorities are different, and cost or convenience wouldn't be on top of the list. They are also loaded with electronic wizardry to compensate for any shortcomings. Weight, emission & CAFE norms could also have been motivators for the brand's decision.

Here's what BHPian Hayek had to say on the matter:

Interesting question. The fact is that even large luxury SUVs with fantastic off-road ability like the Mercedes GLS are built on monocoque platforms. The fact is that monocoques can do practically everything you need with far better drivability and ride quality than ladder frames. As GTO mentioned, the key advantage of ladder frames is that they are easy to repair and maintain - and hence customers who care for space and cost, and don’t care for refinement or ride quality love the Fortuners and Endeavors and other such ladder-frame SUVs.

I have mentioned this on other threads - the fact is that people like me who love monocoque SUVs like the X3 or Tiguan would never ever want to own a Fortuner. Have test driven the Fortuner category vehicles thrice - in 2010 (manual Fortuner which had brakes that barely worked), 2012 and 2020 - and these products have just become less attractive compared to the monocoque competition each time I tried them.

Yes, the most expensive SUV in the world, the G Wagon is on a ladder frame. But guess it is the exception that proves the rule.

Here's what BHPian .anshuman had to say on the matter:

The biggest problem I see with this car is the “Defender” name. Defender as a stock SUV is brilliantly configured and tuned but lacks the simplicity and cannot be upgraded/customised further. It offers the best of both worlds, excellent off-road capability, great ride quality and on-road dynamics. As a stock vehicle, it is supremely capable but it lacks mechanical simplicity of the older car, or any other simple Ladder on frame SUV, the reason it cannot be customised and upgraded further with aftermarket parts. Also, everything is so complex, if anything fails, it will cost a bomb to replace, and we all know how reliable modern Landrovers are.

Here is a video I posted few months back. The Defender in this video is a standard SE model, without rear active differential.

For regular offroad use or expedition use, a custom prepared simple ladder on frame SUV makes more sense than a Defender.

Stock vs Stock SUVs comparison, all with open diffs, Defender is more capable than stock Fortuner and stock Landcruiser 200. But you can upgrade the drivetrain and suspension on the simpler Toyotas to suit your purpose and they will out perform the Defender. Not only the performance, the durability, dependability, ease of maintenance and life will be far superior with the simpler SUVs.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

 
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