Freelander in the snow

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Peco

Active Member
Posts
115
I am a complete noob when it comes to the mechanics of cars (4x4's).

1.8 2003 Kalihari in really struggling in the snow. It slips left, you correct it, it slips right.

Surely it's not the tires that are causing this?? Am I right to assume the 4 wheel drive isn't kicking in?
 
Can you floor the throttle on a very slippery surface to check the 4x4 is functioning and get someone to look outside for all wheels spinning?

Snow tyres make a big difference, check the videos on youtube of before/after for proof.
(There are guys on snow tyres in 4x4 in two feet of snow having great fun).
 
Has someone removed your VCU and/or propshafts

Are you running low profile road tyres
 
Has someone removed your VCU and/or propshafts

Are you running low profile road tyres

I'm really not sure if they have ever been removed, it had a couple of owners prior to me owning it.

As far as I know the tires are just standard tires, definitely not low profiles though.

I'll try TD4_4x4's suggestion with the wheel spinny thing and report back with my findings.

Thanks guys
 
I have snow tyres fitted to my freelander and it goes anywhere in the snow. Needs to at the moment with the amount we're having near Aberdeen at the moment.

The ones I have fitted are:

WeatherMaster ST2
 
Mrs Blip drove hundreds of miles in the recent snow and in Feb 2009 with no problems. Technique has a lot to do with it.

Cheers

Blippie
 
I can vouch for Freelanders in the snow. This is mine in Perth, Scotland on the 27th December. Drove around up there for months in the snow and down here in Manchester in the snow without a single problem. A lot of fun if I'm honest. Mine is on the left, a fellow freelander owner on the right at Mc Donalds Perth for Breakfast :) Well over a foot of snow and still falling.

jodsclass_freelander.jpg
 
Last edited:
I can vouch for Freelanders in the snow. This is mine in Perth, Scotland on the 27th December. Drove around up there for months in the snow and down here in Manchester in the snow without a single problem. A lot of fun if I'm honest. Mine is on the left, a fellow freelander owner on the right at Mc Donalds Perth for Breakfast :) Well over a foot of snow and still falling.

jodsclass_freelander.jpg

Thanks for the photo, can you let us know what tyres you're using please? Cheers.
 
I run the Standard Michelin Synchones and they have been faultless on the snow & ice,

as has the TD4 Auto with working VCU and traction control

Even used the HDC down a steep icey hill that was littered with abandoned cars - that worked perfectly

Apart from the ground clearance in the deepest stuff this really has been the best thing I've driven in the snow - better overall than my 3 Rangies and 2 Discos
 
There seems to be a good amount of treat on the tires. Perhaps they just aren't suited to snow though:

 
my tyres are half worn road biased and here on my little island in the snow i was pulling civics etc out ditches easily!! look under your freelander and see if the prop is attatched!!
 
my tyres are half worn road biased and here on my little island in the snow i was pulling civics etc out ditches easily!! look under your freelander and see if the prop is attatched!!

That was the second thing i checked on my FL (cylinder head was 1st). I believe removing the prop is common with frontiers also. I don't know much about FLs but your boots look like road ones.
 
They are Goodyear Wrangler HP's 215/65/16 on the front and some cheapy Nexen tyres on the rear. Need to get the two back ones some new goodyears but this month is Tax/full service/new window regulator month so I'll wait until next month.

GOODYEAR WRANGLER HP (215 65 16 98H - 4x4 Tyre)

I'm sure this is old news to you all and this entry will be looked at as obsolete but when changing make sure the new ones are put on the back wheels.
 
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