Freelander as a tow vehicle? - Page 3

codprawn · 17 January 2006, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

Duncan
keep well away from the FREELANDER. I had the 2000 petrol model (1.8L) and had towed my first Seahawk from Poland in 2002. Towing the rib on a 4 wheel trailer (about 1400kg) was more or less ok but not a piece of cake . However when trying to recover then it is just useless. I had big problems in getting up the slip in Plymouth after the first RibNet conference, Just about burnt the clutch and on top of things at 40K experienced the head gasket problem. Mind you got a brand new engine cos the 3 year warranty was still valid. Last year I did a part exchange and now enjoy a TDI300 Landrover

Andre

Not a lover of the Freelander personally but the diesel is a different story and the lower down torque means you don't need to slip the clutch so much.

Of course for heavy towing a Discovery is a much better bet which is why I am about to buy one - my 110 V8 is fantastic but if I want to tow long distance I would rather save the petrol for the boat!!!

codprawn · 17 January 2006, 14:34

Not getting rid of my 110 though - no way!!!

Nos4r2 · 17 January 2006, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

Trannys make surprisingly good tow vehicles, someone does a 4x4 conversion for them i gather.

That's a Transit County- it's basically a stretched landy chassis with landy mechanicals, a transit body and a twin-wheel rear axle. They don't cost too much either as they just look like a transit with a few inches extra ground clearance rather than something the chelsea tractor mob would drive

There's a camper one on ebay at the moment-bloody cheap too, no bids at £1850

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-TRANSIT-4...QQcmdZViewItem

Rich L · 17 January 2006, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

There's a camper one on ebay at the moment-bloody cheap too, no bids at £1850

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-TRANSIT-4...QQcmdZViewItem

"the van is in good cond inside and out apart from odd rust spot on wheelarce witch if you look it pictures u carnt see there is a compartment for a portaloo and a place to get washed and shaved but there is no shower unit in van"

Thanks, Hilarious advert

Rogue Wave · 17 January 2006, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I still blame the tyres! It needs a diff lock...

I've actually been looking at Rangies on eBay, there are some P38 bargains to be had, but I'm not sure I could be a student in a rangie!

I'm paying closer attention to Nissan Patrols and isuzu troopers - all points say they are excellent tow vehicles, and can shift offroad. Reliable, as they're jap, and they even look like 4x4's!

Talk to me on Sunday about my Patrol, it's surplus to requirements and I am off to the North sea for 4 months in April. You can borrow it for a year if you want.

tcwozere · 18 January 2006, 07:09

The best tow* vehicle is a Citroen C5..

The hydraulic suspension allows it to be raised and lowered at the touch of a switch to get the trailer onto the coupling.. It also stops the rear end of the car bouncing up and down on the motorway..

*Apart from on the slipway..

donutsina911 · 18 January 2006, 07:34

duncan - stop fkin about, flog the RR, westfield and VW and buy the rs4 and a defender, you know it makes sense....

codprawn · 18 January 2006, 16:53

The best value towcar EVER 2nd hand has to be the Audi S8 quattro 4.2V8 - been looking at them and you can get a nice 1999 one with 60,000 iles for £6,000 - when you think it was £60,000 new!!! And they say British cars lose money!!!

Will tow 2,400kgs which isn't enough for me unfortunately but what a car for the money!!! One slight snag is insurance - group 20!!!

Searider · 18 January 2006, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

The best value towcar EVER 2nd hand has to be the Audi S8 quattro 4.2V8 - been looking at them and you can get a nice 1999 one with 60,000 iles for £6,000 - when you think it was £60,000 new!!! And they say British cars lose money!!!

Will tow 2,400kgs which isn't enough for me unfortunately but what a car for the money!!! One slight snag is insurance - group 20!!!

Have been thinking about an older S4 funnily enough.

Scary Des · 18 January 2006, 17:27

oopps

double post

Scary Des · 18 January 2006, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

The best value towcar EVER 2nd hand has to be the Audi S8 quattro 4.2V8 -
.

Keep thinking

they’ll cost you an arm and a leg to run

the fuel consumptions is really frightful and servicing is worse

Des

Searider · 18 January 2006, 17:45

So,

It sounds like the most likely downside of a diesel Freelander might be burning out the clutch.

Will have to think on.

Donuts - that is sort of the plan I fancy an S4 but not sure if a Defender is the most sensible other daily driver.

I want to go from a 4 car "family" to a 2 car family.

We'll see how this spring pans out.

When are you getting a towbar fitted to your new motor?

donutsina911 · 18 January 2006, 19:06

had two conflicting reports - pompey audi say they wont put a towbar on as it will melt with heat of exhaust (and equally worrying it requires quite a bit of cutting and pasting of the rear end) and west london audi say its fine to do and will take £895 + vat for privelige....

mmmm £1050 or a melted rear end

- not much comfort either way so its probably not going to happen....

Nos4r2 · 18 January 2006, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by donutsina911

had two conflicting reports - pompey audi say they wont put a towbar on as it will melt with heat of exhaust (and equally worrying it requires quite a bit of cutting and pasting of the rear end) and west london audi say its fine to do and will take £895 + vat for privelige....

mmmm £1050 or a melted rear end

- not much comfort either way so its probably not going to happen....

Have you tried a specialist towbar centre?

randski · 18 January 2006, 20:19

If you want to do the Job

stop Pi**ing about and get a proper jap 4x4

donutsina911 · 18 January 2006, 20:28

Mollers · 18 January 2006, 21:45

Freelanders, Disco's 1 and 2 are thrown together out of the Austin Rover parts bin. Beats me why anyone would even consider one. Clarkson and Co. fall around laughing at the mere mention of either. In the small/ midsize 4x4 sector it has to be jap in my opinion.

ADS · 18 January 2006, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by donutsina911

had two conflicting reports - pompey audi say they wont put a towbar on as it will melt with heat of exhaust (and equally worrying it requires quite a bit of cutting and pasting of the rear end) and west london audi say its fine to do and will take £895 + vat for privelige....

mmmm £1050 or a melted rear end

- not much comfort either way so its probably not going to happen....

Out of interest which Audi model is it? RS4??

codprawn · 19 January 2006, 00:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

Freelanders, Disco's 1 and 2 are thrown together out of the Austin Rover parts bin. Beats me why anyone would even consider one. Clarkson and Co. fall around laughing at the mere mention of either. In the small/ midsize 4x4 sector it has to be jap in my opinion.

You obviously have never seen the test of Clarkson driving over the boggy mountain in Scotland then - he was REALLY singing the Discovery's praises!!!

Also he keeps insisting on the Defender being on the COOL wall......

Nos4r2 · 19 January 2006, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

You obviously have never seen the test of Clarkson driving over the boggy mountain in Scotland then - he was REALLY singing the Discovery's praises!!!

Also he keeps insisting on the Defender being on the COOL wall......

Clarkson is a prat who couldn't drive offroad in a tank.

I could have done that run in half the time in my old Fourtrak-and without having to be winched out twice.

A PROPER landy would have done it even quicker.