Freelander ground clearance

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RichM

RichM

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,840
Location
UK
Hi,

How do you guys cope with the low ground clearance? This is not the first thread I've made related to the low ground clearance of the Freelander but to be honest, it can only be described as a joke.

Seriously, I don't do anything extreme (obviously) and I bottom out on a weekly basis. Last month, I went to a Land Rover show and went on an off road course in one of their Disco's, and I almost burst out laughing when I thought of my Freelander. No wonder nobody took a Freelander around the track. I considered doing it at one point (I am the daring type) but when I realised that I'd have a crowd watching me, I figured I didn't want to risk becoming the clown of the show.

I'm interested to hear how you guys manage with the low ground clearance. I've looked into lifting it a little, but that doesn't seem to be cheap.

Rich
 
Seriously guys how does one cope with the ground clearance of a 4 wheel drive Subaru???

Come on Rich, for crying out loud, you buy the car to match what you want to do! Dont buy a 4x4 then complain you cant take it where a tank can go! Serious off roading means high ground clearance in any language. I've known Disco's to get stuck in tractor ruts too..... ;)

The Hippo is a capable car and the best in its CLASS aka RAV4 and CRV. That said I've followed Disco's and Defenders around Salisbury plain through mud and puddles with 17" profiles. OK I straddle ruts, which is an off-roading skill too lol.

I've heard the best way to lift a Hippo's axle is put 15" steel rims on with the deepest sidewall (I think 285's) to give a good couple of inches more than the norm.

But I agree, if you want to go further get a Defender or Disco..... or a tractor ;)
 
What wheel/tyre combo have you got on your freeby? I've never really had any clearance issues with mine yet and i've taken mine in some extreme stuff before. The only thing that hit the ground often was the exhaust, so i made my own custom exhaust which fits a lot higher up than the standard.
 
freebiker said:
What wheel/tyre combo have you got on your freeby? I've never really had any clearance issues with mine yet and i've taken mine in some extreme stuff before. The only thing that hit the ground often was the exhaust, so i made my own custom exhaust which fits a lot higher up than the standard.
Click to expand...

225/55R17/97W

Been looking for something more suitable but haven't been able to find anything except for a set of awful standard steel wheels.
 
215/70R16 = 707.39mm diameter.
225/55R17 = 679.19mm diameter.

Your wheel size is the problem. Above is your wheels compared with mine. If you get yourself some decent 15" or 16" alloys you'll be able to fit larger and better rubber to them. From what i remember there isn't much decent rubber available for the 17" rims.

Ebay is pretty decent for alloys, i picked one up once for £20 with free postage. Used obviously.
 
Increasing the diameter of the wheel / tyre combination is a good way to get better ground clearance, but
1) In the auto it can turn top gear into an overdrive.
2) you will still ground out - just later.

My advice is to fit a decent sump guard, and ignore the banging noise coming from the back box and center box.
To be honest fitting guards to any vehicle is always a good idea if you are at risk of grounding.
Drive straddling the ruts where possible, go faster where it's not possible.
Freelanders will never be Disco's, but will put stuff like X3's to shame offroad.

Having said that I have had to tow a Defender 130 that was stranded with both diffs on high ground that I had just negotiated, would have made a beaut of a picture, forgot to mention that he had to tow me out at least three times on the same day :eek:

Some of us will try and occasionally fail, beats never trying.
 
RichM said:
Hi,

How do you guys cope with the low ground clearance? Last month, I went to a Land Rover show and went on an off road course in one of their Disco's, and I almost burst out laughing when I thought of my Freelander. No wonder nobody took a Freelander around the track.

Rich
Click to expand...
A Disco has only got 8" under the diffs, I've got 13" and I still get stuck. It's horses for courses. If you won't make it, try a different route. Failing which some decent recovery points and plenty of mates.
 
Hi i have just got freelander td4 i want more ground clearance i have 215 /65/r16 whats the best tyres to put on it to get the best ground clearance freelander 1
 
S1monm said:
Holly thread revival! I've put 205 80 16 on mone, gives an extra inch or so
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8 and a half years. I've seen longer, but not many.
Thejam said:
Hi i have just got freelander td4 i want more ground clearance i have 215 /65/r16 whats the best tyres to put on it to get the best ground clearance freelander 1
Click to expand...
How much ground clearance needed is relative. If it's not enough, then add some taller tyres and a 40mm suspension lift. If you need more than an another 50mm total, then buy a defender instead of a Freelander.
 
Part of the fun of driving oft road is the need to pick the best route... man/machine working together to get past said obstacle. The ground clearance on a Freelander int much different to other lr's.
 
Have you got any pic of what it will look like m8
Hippo said:
Part of the fun of driving oft road is the need to pick the best route... man/machine working together to get past said obstacle. The ground clearance on a Freelander int much different to other lr's.
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Ground clearance can be improved in the following ways:
Larger tyres - I have 2 sets 205 70 15 ATs for general use & 215 75 15 MTs for more adventurous situations - I get another 15mm or so ground clearance with the MTs.
Better springs - I replaced mine with a set of Dobinsons [ Australian] - they are a heavy duty set and the car sits about 15 to 20mm higher - probably close to factory spec' having settled over the years - possibly higher
Lift kits/blocks - these go on the top of the struts and necessitate their removal to fit them. Most popular is 40mm and many also go for 50mm. Taller lifts means cutting the bodywork up in the front wheel arches to accomodate the extra suspension travel...

In conjunction you should probably consider some uprated skid plates to protect the sump and possibly rear muffler. I used 6mm alloy plate for mine at both ends. Also a removable tow attachment is a worth while consideration too.

A good 4WD driver training is also well worth considering too - A skilled driver can possibly get further that an unskilled one and should recognise when not to proceed...

Fl1s are not a hard out 4WD but having said that will get you a lot of places. I find mine goes well in slippery situations and will wade through water to LR recommendations - any deeper and it gets worrying! [you'll float! - hydraulic the motor ££££ :( ] I can scramble up / down quite steep slopes - love the HDC! Rocky terrain is an absolute pain - that's when you really could do with a low ratio G'box. Autos may be better there.

Have fun!
 
Thejam said:
Is that what the 205 80 16 look like would they be any rubbing on wheel archers
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No. Warren (owner of that car) has huge wheels on it. 255/55/18 or something like that. Here's the link to his build. It covers a few years of tinkering and improving.https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/diesel-dos-l-series.285116/page-16#post-4121079
Imo 205/80/16 are tall skinny things. Definitely not anything I'd fit to my FL1. My current FL1 is fitted with 235/55/18 tyres. These lift it and give improved grip and handling at the same time.
 
Last edited:
Nodge68 said:
No. Warren (owner of that car) has huge wheels on it. 255/55/18 or something like that. Here's the link to his build. It covers a few years of tinkering and improving.https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/diesel-dos-l-series.285116/page-16#post-4121079
Imo 205/80/16 are tall skinny things. Definitely not anything I'd fit to my FL1. My current FL1 is fitted with 235/55/18 tyres. These lift it and give improved grip and handling at the same time.
Click to expand...


Agree about the 205 80 16 tyres, I don't like how they look but they are a means to an end for me. As I do a lot of driving off road with my job I wanted some decent AT tyres and there was more choice on a 16" rim. I went for the Michelin Latitude Cross tyres, they really are excellent on the road. Haven't tried them yet in mud and snow but from the reviews they should be good
 
So the 205 70 16 definitely dont rub with passengers in back i dont want to lift it just for ground clearance and to make it look better thanks
 
Thejam said:
So the 205 70 16 definitely dont rub with passengers in back i dont want to lift it just for ground clearance and to make it look better thanks
Click to expand...
205/80/16 don't rub as they are spindly narrow things. It makes no difference how many people are in the FL1, as the tyres hit the spring cups long before hitting the wheel arches.
 
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