So just how good off-road are they?

[cotefarmboy]

I am looking at a late FL1 TD4 Auto and want to use it off-road a fair bit. I know the ground clearance is an issue but I am thinking of fitting slightly bigger tyres along with some under-body protection, will it really embarrass me at the pay-n-play or can it really hold its own?

Not comparing with a Defender of course but say compared to a Disco 1?

Opting for Auto to compensate for lack of low-range as I reckon it will be better than slipping the clutch to control a manual version, HDC and a bit of left foot braking should help on descents, main issue is will it handle ruts and mud OK if fitted with decent rubber. Will the Traction Control keep me going?

Main reason for the choice is it will be a daily drive so need reasonable economy and comfort. D1 is out due to rot and reliability, D2 also unreliable and too thirsty.

Can't think of another decent 4x4 around £10k that can do 35mpg+ and go off-road, anyone got any ideas?

Help !!!"

[schuee]

Evening Andy,

Have had my TD4 from new for the last 3 years, and on the whole I'm really happy with it, had a few problems with the old girl though all sorted under warranty so anything you are looking at now should have been seen to and hopefully sorted out.
Now regarding using it for off road use, I use my Freelander to drive the length and breadth of the country and find it a pleasure to drive, and mine is a commercial model which has the most basic of trim and everything is plastic ( no worries about the inside getting muddy ) ;) have driven top of the range FL1's as courtesy cars and must say if you can get one go for it.
So the upshot is I try not to damage it as I don't want to be without it, the only damage I have sustained from greenlaning is two anti roll bar link arms and a few scratches.regarding greenlaning I know the hippo is slung low, so you have to pick your route carefully ie, through deep rutts and get used to the scraping noises as you slide along.The Freelander seems to cope really well in the really muddy stuff and keeps on sliding through were other Landy drivers thought I would get stuck, not sure if its due to the weight of the vehicle or how flat the under belly is, or maybe its the drivers ability ;) :lol: :lol: :lol: or it just could be luck.
I think if you were to mod a Freelander with a lift etc would make a great off road toy seen some modded ones on MC though you could check out http://www.mad-freelanders.org.uk/, not sure if this is correct though I've heard if you put too aggresive tyres on the traction control does'nt work correctly.So to sum it up its an ideal everyday car and also you can still have good if not too extreme fun either off-roading at a p&p or legal greenlaning.

Cheers
Keith

[Rockin Robin]

You might find that you’re embarrassing others at pay & play sites. Auto is def. best option off road and because FL is a lot lighter you’ll find it will sail through some sections where others are breaking out the winches and tow ropes! TC will propel you through most sticky situations, but yes … you do have to bear in mind the ground clearance issues - particularly when dealing with very deep ruts.



It would be best to ditch the OE plastic sump guard, and source a good Mantec replacement, as you’ll be spending a fair amount of time sliding along on it! Sills can also be vulnerable, but sliders are available from the likes of Bearmach. The exhaust silencer is also supposed to be vulnerable, but I’ve yet to do any serious damage to mine! I have a 1.5” lift, and  run 215/80/15 MT’s off road, giving about 3” additional ground clearance (and it looks a lot better too  ;)).

And at the end of the day,  I can clean off the mud and I have a leather upholstered, air conditioned quiet comfortable motor which turns in 35-40mpg. If you can (and are bothered about cost) try and source a pre-March 2001 model, since the TD4 auto will be hit hard by the Gov’ts  new tax regime - £430 in 2010  :shock:

[cotefarmboy]

Lift kit is certainly on the cards, is it simple to do a 1.5" lift, i.e. does it affect steering geometry. propshafts etc or is it a simple spring and shock upgrade?

[redhand]

I have a 1.5” lift, and  run 215/80/15 MT’s off road, giving about 3” additional ground clearance (and it looks a lot better too  ;)).

I'm a bit confused at that staement as in order to increase ground clearance. you have to fit bigger tyres. all the lift kits in the world don't change the height if the axles & diffs. In order to lift these 3" you would have to increase tyre diameter by 6". A body lift might get the floorpan higher but it doesn't change the ground clearance of the vehicle.

Also with no low box getting up steep slopes is a nightmare.

[Rockin Robin]

The FL doesn’t have axles. The IRD, VCU, final drive unit and prop shafts are all fixed to the underside of the chassis. The lift kit I have fitted comprises 1.5” spacers which bolt to the top of the suspension struts. When re-assembled, this effectively raises the whole vehicle body (including Drivetrain) by 1.5”. The additional clearance now provided in the wheel arches allows for fitting bigger tyres which (as you have noted) will allow for an even bigger lift. Hence - in my case - 3” additional clearance over standard. 2” lift kits are also available to fit FL.




The only potential problem is that the angle of the driveshafts down to the wheels becomes more acute with the potential for increased wear of the couplings. However there have been no reported problems amongst the MAD Freelander members, most of whom have this mod. Some have been running it for many thousands of miles. We’ve covered over 10K in the last year with the lift fitted, and no problems.

As far as having no low box is concerned - yes this is a drawback, but going for the Automatic transmission goes a long way to overcoming this deficiency.

[V8MoneyPit]

As far as having no low box is concerned - yes this is a drawback, but going for the Automatic transmission goes a long way to overcoming this deficiency.

I can second that. Our original petrol FL was a manual and we couldn't get it slow enough in my view. The TD4 we now have is auto and it can crawl as slow as you need it to. As for hill climbing, the traction control combined with auto box copes far better than I would have ever anticipated. And this comes from a die hard Defender fan. The Freebie never ceases to impress me.

We run a 2" lift and 215/75 (IIRC) BFG AT's.

[cotefarmboy]

All sounding good, I am interested to know more about lifting though.

Anyone confirm how easy a job and if it screws up steering geometry etc?

[V8MoneyPit]

The kits will either have aluminium spacers or long nuts to move the entire strut down from the turret. You have to take each strut out to fit these. Not a major job as long as the bolts come undone OK! It took me most of a day to do it, but I did fit a towbar at the same time.

We fitted camber correction bolts as it gave too much positive camber on the front after lifting. Then you need to reset the tracking.

You will also need to cut the inner wing below the track rod to give clearance for the steering.

[fatboy]

when you lift it in would go for 2" lift you can fit uo to 225/75 on steel rims but when you do the lift you have to cut the inner arch to allow for steering arms

Fatboy
 :dance: :dance:

[Porny]

I've took a Td4 Freelander off road quite a few times...

Apart from some slightly cringeworthy noises coming from underneath, it coped very well!!  In all honesty one big hill climb it made it quite a few times, even where tricked up Defenders and Disco's were failing (and this was a standard Freelander on standard tyres).
It is very easy to get a wheel in the air on a Freelander compared to say a Defender... but with the traction control this isn't a huge problem.

Having no low box means you don't always have the control you want, but the HDC does work well.

I do find the Td4 and L series slightly lacking in low end punch (but would still have a diesel over the petrol!) - but this nothing that a remap doesn't sort out.


Ian

[carbore]

I have only driven mine round my nice grassy fields and the road to my house is a green lane! but in the snow it was very sure footed, as people have said because they are not that heavy you are not fighting weight and the grip is fine. You-tube has some good freelader vids if you want reassurance, especilly the one with the freelander on a tilt bed going sideways.

[cotefarmboy]

Just pushed the boat out and ordered a Freelander 2 TD4 Auto  :D

[schuee]

Just pushed the boat out and ordered a Freelander 2 TD4 Auto  :D

Lets have some pics when you get it :)

Cheers

Keith

[V8MoneyPit]

Just pushed the boat out and ordered a Freelander 2 TD4 Auto  :D

But, of course, we will all deny any form of positive encouragement for you to buy one when it breaks down  8-[ :lol:

The '2' seems to have a little more ground clearance than the earlier one, but I believe it is a longer wheelbase which takes that advantage away a little.

[cotefarmboy]

Went to the dealer to try and sort out a deal on a FL2, figures weren't stacking up so while I was wandering round the place I spotted a brand new pre-registered Defender 110 XS CSW, it had been a cancelled order so they were offering it with £5k lobbed off the list price.

What can I say, I am a sucker for a pretty 110, bought it on the spot  :D

[V8MoneyPit]

 :lol: :lol:

Sounds like a good deal, even it is exactly what you were looking at!

I have to say, the FL2 is not exactly cheap. We've decided to hang on to the old TD4 until it fails big time. Basically run it into the ground.

[redhand]

Went to the dealer to try and sort out a deal on a FL2, figures weren't stacking up so while I was wandering round the place I spotted a brand new pre-registered Defender 110 XS CSW, it had been a cancelled order so they were offering it with £5k lobbed off the list price.

What can I say, I am a sucker for a pretty 110, bought it on the spot  :D

I knew you'd see the light eventually.  :lol:  :lol:

[Range Rover Blues]

Went to the dealer to try and sort out a deal on a FL2, figures weren't stacking up so while I was wandering round the place I spotted a brand new pre-registered Defender 110 XS CSW, it had been a cancelled order so they were offering it with £5k lobbed off the list price.

What can I say, I am a sucker for a pretty 110, bought it on the spot  :D

£5k off, it would be rude not to :D

[Devon-Rover]

I have seen one go places i wouldn't of dreamed possible to go.

It was a little bit modifiled though.

V6 Auto
Underbody protection
Roll Cage
205R16 Diamonds

It just was a case of point and go, traction control kept it moving when wheels were in the air and the guards meant it just tobogganed over the ruts / tree stumps which were hanging people up on. 

[Doobreydog]

A bit of underbody protection and lift and will go anywhere a "real" 4x4 can.....and often further


A bit tame this one
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2cgb8m1sObA

[Range Rover Blues]

Is that one yours? if so where is the LPG tank?

[G30RGE]

I'll leave that for Doobreydog to reply but it sounds good  :D

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zX4RJS1mpe4

[Doobreydog]

Is that one yours? if so where is the LPG tank?

Rear boot well removed and exhaust modified to fit in gap left...Guard underneath for off road protection