Old Freelander any good at slipway recovery

[mikeripon]

Hi All i would just like to know if anyone uses a Freelander for towing/recovering boats from the slip way? i know they dont have low ratio so not sure how they would cope? im only towing a 4 mtr sr out and about.
I have had Landrovers in the past a Disco 300tdi M Reg and a 90 300 tdi crew cab The Disco was Brilliant at everything the 90 almost bankrupted me! every week there was something!!! (Wounds still sore) i would have a disco again tomorrow if i could afford to run one at these fuel prices! but i cant so a Freelander is a sensible option. if any opinions please let me know? its more the economy than anything, and i would prob go for a TD4 as they are great (except the lack of go below 2000 revs lol) i have one in a Rover 75 tdci i have at the moment

[Starovich]

I have a 03 plate derv burner, and have no issues with towing or hauling a 5m Tornado up a "slip" well not even a slip really just a gravel track into the sea, no concrete and fairly muddy.

Question, is do you need low range for a boat that light? IS the slip that slippery or that steep?

[mikeripon]

erm well i usually take my boats to whitby and the slip can be steep depending on the tide, but if you can cope with a 5mtr im sure it will suite me just fine?
is yours manual or Auto? i just dont know if i can go the auto route just yet? im still in my 30s and it just seems wrong to drive an auto! (sorry guys)

[BogMonster]

I have owned quite a few and driven all the rest of the various Land Rover models except the RR/RRS.

The Td4 or V6 auto would be fine but in the manual, all the clutches are weak compared to a proper Land Rover especially the Td4 which gets quite stinky with just a poor hill start (I used to have one, sold it after six months).

I don't know how robust the clutches are when really abused but they don't smell robust and the Td4 has bugger all torque below 2000rpm so on a steep slip with a boat on it would need some revs. Probably still better than a lot of cars but definitely not in the same league as anything with a Tdi, Td5 and especially not a Puma engine for a hill start with a trailer on the back.

I think it would be OK for 4-5m boat but wouldn't fancy anything bigger on a tricky slip or you'd definitely have 'eau de clutch'. IIRC the towing limit is 2000kg on Freelanders against 3500kg for the proper LR models and it definitely has about half the ability in practice....

[chewy]

You'll be able to pick up a Disco for the same price as a TD4 Freelander. I know which I'd choose.

[Starovich]

Mine is a manual.

[mikeripon]

thanks guys, i know i can get a disco for around the same price, its the running cost ie fuel i cant afford, i used to have one and i got 28 mpg, but i did love it!
I could actually buy it back as it has just failed its mot and the owner has decided to not put it thru and sell it. (he bought a peugot 106)
I know what you mean re clutch burning as i have the Rover 75 (td4 engine) and that stinks trying to pull my fishing boat out of the water a couple of months ago! it did it mind but 4 or 5 of them and i think new clutch is needed.

[mikeripon]

Starovich what sort of MPG do you get Normal Driving and Towing if you dont mind me asking?

[MustRib]

dont think the eau de clutch is restricted to the old freelander...
my new 2008 freelander stinks when reversing up a hill, more so up a hill and round a corner.
Its a manual TD4 - the Ford engine. Not taking about pushing a trailer backwards up hill, just about pushing itself backwards uphill !!!!
Otherwise its brilliant towing - and I love the car, its a manual!

[Channel Ribs]

Our Series III (proper Landy) smells a bit at the mo, but that might be the lack of oil in all the transmissions. Where does a RIBber get cheap gearbox oil??