Is it worth Moding my Freelander

Hi all,

Im new here! Ive had a few Discos and Defenders in my time for off roading. Not had a 4x4 in a while but a little 1.8 Freelander Sreg cropped up locally quite cheep so I bought it. Ive been lanning in it a few times and it seems quite capable for what I want it for (Its got General Grabber at2 on it at the moment). I did get stuck once but I think that was down to driver error rather than anything else. I love driving it and there doesnt seem to be anything wrong with it.

Now my question is, Is it worth spending some money on it, lifting it and putting bigger tyres on it to make it better off road or is it going to break all the time? How do other people get on with theres off road? Im not interested in play days just green lanning but I dont want to be getting stuck all the time.

Thanks

Stu

Only mods on mine are, Tiger rims with 235/70/16 Pirelli Scorpions and a homemade sump guard, been laning for nearly 3 years on average once a month, never been stuck once, have to be aware on some lanes as there is no low box, but otherwise been where other 4x4s go.

What about reliability?????

SES88 sells 40mm lift kits. recommended, though I've not been off road yet, I'm planning on soon when work calms down a little.

As you have found out, they are quite capable without any mods.

Bigger tyres are the best mod I would have thought, followed by a lift kit. Might need spacers or modular wheels for the big tyres. I have alloys & spacers. Big tyres are on my list.

Best make sure the 1.8 lump is in good form, as they have a tendency to overheat and go through head gaskets etc. plenty of posts on here about them.

Land Rover and reliability........ Do they go together?




Ps I hope so as my only car is my Freelander. :lol:

Thanks. The 1st thing Im buying is a set of Mods and and I will put the AT2 on them. Larger tyres and a lift kit will come later at the same time.

stu1909 said:

I did get stuck once but I think that was down to driver error rather than anything else. I love driving it and there doesnt seem to be anything wrong with it.

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I've grown to like/love my Freelander after years of Disco ownership. My heart tells me the Disco was the least likely to "not get me places", but my head recons that with traction control, the Freelander will.

I know even the best 4x4s can get stuck - but are you sure it was "pilot error"? Have you made sure the 4WD system is working? Not just making sure there are props to the rear wheels but that the IRD (front diff thingie) or viscous coupling (the bit between the 2 props) hasn't been played about with to stop drive to the rear wheels? Maybe jack 1 rear wheel up and see if it turns by hand - it won't if the 4WD system is in tact. Also are the electronic ABS/TC/HDC gozmos working? The warning lights for all of them should come on when you turn the ignition on then all bar the ABS will go out and finally the ABS goes out once you start moving (at more than 4MPG I think).

You wouldn't be the first to blame yourself just to find out a previous owner had castrated its capabilities!

Thanks, Im sure it is working, but I will ckeck! It was a Ford I got stuck in! I bottled it and slowed down and the Landy came to a halt! Wouldnt move after that! Had to wait for a passing Farmer to come past and pull me out!!!!!!

stu1909 said:

Thanks, Im sure it is working, but I will ckeck! It was a Ford I got stuck in! I bottled it and slowed down and the Landy came to a halt! Wouldnt move after that! Had to wait for a passing Farmer to come past and pull me out!!!!!!

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Never go laning by yourself

They're no less reliable than any other LR

stu1909 said:

Thanks, Im sure it is working, but I will ckeck! It was a Ford I got stuck in! I bottled it and slowed down and the Landy came to a halt! Wouldnt move after that! Had to wait for a passing Farmer to come past and pull me out!!!!!!

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When the going gets slippery, a bit of momentum is your friend
Because there is no low range, a little bit of speed is needed to get you through tough sections. I find the Freelander pretty good for most situations, although rock crawling is best with an auto box.

SES88 said:

Never go laning by yourself

They're no less reliable than any other LR

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This ^^^^
My normal laning buddy has a Td5. I've had to tow him out of mud on several occasions which my V6 Freelander didn't have a problem with!!

The more I read and the more I drive it the more I like it!!!!!!!

lol, sometimes bottling it is the sensible thing to to...

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f16/ooops-lost-me-landy-238692.html

Actually that fella did try and bottle it, but got unlucky. This fella (local to me) did the stupid thing and took his whole family through a high ford as a 'shortcut' and almost paid the ultimate price...

River rescue in sodden chaos, Campers optimistic... | Stuff.co.nz

with any 4x4 it is down to the driver getting stuck ,you should always walk the course first unless that it the course is a very long one ,then you should take care and then if in doubt walk it. I have only ever been stuck once in my old freelander and that was due to a "new" vcu that did not work but no fault of the car its self that was down to freelander spares who are now landrover spares north east be carefull!

Well Ive decided to just go for a set of 215/65/16 muds or 215/70/16 all terrains on Mods for just now. Was going to lift it and go for bigger tyres but for what Im using it for I think that will do. I will post some pics when Ive done it.