Long-time lurker and first-time poster

Greetings all!
As above – I’ve spent cumulative hours on this forum following Google searches and thought I should finally join. Thank you for all of the advice and wisdom that I’ve ‘stolen’…

Proud owner of a 2005 Freelander 1 TD4 3-door. I’ve got a soft back for it (friends and family delight in its ease and speed to put up and take down…) and I’ve started doing a few mods to prepare it for some light green-laning (I’ve joined GLASS too).

Looking forward to hearing your advice and guidance on things off-road, and eventually (but hopefully not) maintenance issues!

Erdapfel said:

Greetings all!
As above – I’ve spent cumulative hours on this forum following Google searches and thought I should finally join. Thank you for all of the advice and wisdom that I’ve ‘stolen’…

Proud owner of a 2005 Freelander 1 TD4 3-door. I’ve got a soft back for it (friends and family delight in its ease and speed to put up and take down…) and I’ve started doing a few mods to prepare it for some light green-laning (I’ve joined GLASS too).

Looking forward to hearing your advice and guidance on things off-road, and eventually (but hopefully not) maintenance issues!

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Welcome to LZ!

In the interests of sharing:
Have a lift kit and some recovery gear to go on very soon, too!

Turboman said:

Welcome to LZ!

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Thank you!!

Erdapfel said:

In the interests of sharing: View attachment 252508 View attachment 252509
Have a lift kit and some recovery gear to go on very soon, too!

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Nice pics, but I am afraid Freelanders aren't really my thing. Lift kits even less so.

More interested by your username, would I be right in thinking that means potato in German?

Turboman said:

Nice pics, but I am afraid Freelanders aren't really my thing. Lift kits even less so.

More interested by your username, would I be right in thinking that means potato in German?

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Thanks! I appreciate that there are some different tastes in the LR community… I’ve always wanted a 90 or 110 but I can’t afford one/to run one (this is a second car) and I wanted some of the creature comforts of a newer car.

Mind if I ask why you don’t like lift kits? I would’ve preferred some longer shocks/springs but these were easily available and cheap.

If it is I didn’t know! It’s the name of the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. I was trying to think of an appropriate username for a LR forum and I remembered something I’d read about it!

Erdapfel said:

Thanks! I appreciate that there are some different tastes in the LR community… I’ve always wanted a 90 or 110 but I can’t afford one/to run one (this is a second car) and I wanted some of the creature comforts of a newer car.

Mind if I ask why you don’t like lift kits? I would’ve preferred some longer shocks/springs but these were easily available and cheap.

If it is I didn’t know! It’s the name of the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. I was trying to think of an appropriate username for a LR forum and I remembered something I’d read about it!

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I have had a Ninety, and a Disco 2. Didn't really like either of them that much, although they were useful.
What I do like is leaf sprung, had 88s and 109s, but my favourite is Series 2a. Petrol engine for preference, but I have had diesels as well.

Lift kits. I don't think they are needed. Standard is quite adequate, the skill of the driver is more important.
And lift kits will always impair the road handling to some extent, and most owners spend 90% or more of their time on the road.

Didn't know that about the globe, but I think literally translated it means EarthApple, which I think would be a potato.

Turboman said:

I have had a Ninety, and a Disco 2. Didn't really like either of them that much, although they were useful.
What I do like is leaf sprung, had 88s and 109s, but my favourite is Series 2a. Petrol engine for preference, but I have had diesels as well.

Lift kits. I don't think they are needed. Standard is quite adequate, the skill of the driver is more important.
And lift kits will always impair the road handling to some extent, and most owners spend 90% or more of their time on the road.

Didn't know that about the globe, but I think literally translated it means EarthApple, which I think would be a potato.

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That’s cool. I do love the old Series Landies too. I think there's one in the GLASS magazine which is open top with roll-up canvas sides. Looks like a lot of fun!

I’m not so worried about road handing – I’ve got an MX5 for that! Plus in my first green-laning experience recently I was grounding out on a relatively tame, rutted track. (I understand you can drive to avoid such things but it was really tight and I didn’t want to go off-piste!)

Ah I see. I know the same is true of pomme de terre in French; didn’t know it applied to German too!

Erdapfel said:

That’s cool. I do love the old Series Landies too. I think there's one in the GLASS magazine which is open top with roll-up canvas sides. Looks like a lot of fun!

I’m not so worried about road handing – I’ve got an MX5 for that! Plus in my first green-laning experience recently I was grounding out on a relatively tame, rutted track. (I understand you can drive to avoid such things but it was really tight and I didn’t want to go off-piste!)

Ah I see. I know the same is true of pomme de terre in French; didn’t know it applied to German too!

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Ruts, you just need to straddle them, and be in the right gear. Probably first on a Freelander, as it has no transfer box.
Don't forget that a lift kit will also reduce your ability to get under low branches, especially combined with a roof rack.
And in my long experience of off road driving, I have met a lot more interference fit vegetation than I have issues with ground clearance.

Turboman said:

Ruts, you just need to straddle them, and be in the right gear. Probably first on a Freelander, as it has no transfer box.
Don't forget that a lift kit will also reduce your ability to get under low branches, especially combined with a roof rack.
And in my long experience of off road driving, I have met a lot more interference fit vegetation than I have issues with ground clearance.

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Thanks for the tip! I’ll keep working on my technique. I hope the lack of locks and low range won’t hold me back too much. Perhaps I’ll look at Discos in the future if it does…

I hadn’t thought about that actually. I’ll consider taking mine off if I know I’ll be going somewhere tight.
Thanks again!

Erdapfel said:

Thanks for the tip! I’ll keep working on my technique. I hope the lack of locks and low range won’t hold me back too much. Perhaps I’ll look at Discos in the future if it does…

I hadn’t thought about that actually. I’ll consider taking mine off if I know I’ll be going somewhere tight.
Thanks again!

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I always aim to be as small a target as possible.

I think freelanders are actually OK off road, although I don't really understand how they work.
The most common fault in off road driving is trying to go too fast.
It isn't a race, and if you are going slowly you have the best chance of picking the right lines, and working out how to get past obstacles.
If you get side slip, narrower tyres will help with that. Taller tyres will also help with ground clearance.

Turboman said:

I always aim to be as small a target as possible.

I think freelanders are actually OK off road, although I don't really understand how they work.
The most common fault in off road driving is trying to go too fast.
It isn't a race, and if you are going slowly you have the best chance of picking the right lines, and working out how to get past obstacles.
If you get side slip, narrower tyres will help with that. Taller tyres will also help with ground clearance.

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Interesting – I’ve seen a lot of off-roaders with everything mounted externally and lifts and massive mud tyres, and never considered that they might get caught up in branches etc.

Thank you for the advice. I worried that I would get stuck without some momentum, with the lack of locks and low range etc. I’ll take things slowly and learn my craft that way. Haven’t had any issues so far – in fact I had one rear brake drum seize last year in the snow halfway up a steep hill. The Freelander pulled itself up with a locked rear wheel! So far I’ve been impressed but I’ve not driven anything else off road so I’ve got nothing to compare it to.

Hello and welcome

Erdapfel said:

Interesting – I’ve seen a lot of off-roaders with everything mounted externally and lifts and massive mud tyres, and never considered that they might get caught up in branches etc.

Thank you for the advice. I worried that I would get stuck without some momentum, with the lack of locks and low range etc. I’ll take things slowly and learn my craft that way. Haven’t had any issues so far – in fact I had one rear brake drum seize last year in the snow halfway up a steep hill. The Freelander pulled itself up with a locked rear wheel! So far I’ve been impressed but I’ve not driven anything else off road so I’ve got nothing to compare it to.

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That sort of stuff is for Comp Safari and Winch challenge. Serious competitions, that are seriously expensive to enter.
For most green laneing, a standard vehicle, maybe with some better tyres, is quite adequate.

Occasionally, you may come to a standstill in mud, or on a greasy upslope. If you are going slowly, you wont be too far in, so you can reverse up, and go again, with a bit more welly.

Or get a friend to tow you back a bit. As a beginner, you should always go out with another vehicle. Your GLASS rep should be able to assist with that.

Welcome to the forum

Hippo said:

Welcome to the forum

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Thank you!

Turboman said:

That sort of stuff is for Comp Safari and Winch challenge. Serious competitions, that are seriously expensive to enter.
For most green laneing, a standard vehicle, maybe with some better tyres, is quite adequate.

Occasionally, you may come to a standstill in mud, or on a greasy upslope. If you are going slowly, you wont be too far in, so you can reverse up, and go again, with a bit more welly.

Or get a friend to tow you back a bit. As a beginner, you should always go out with another vehicle. Your GLASS rep should be able to assist with that.

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Thanks for the advice! (And sorry for the delayed reply.) I’m fast learning what is necessary and what not, though I suppose a winch would give me some peace of mind. I’ve got a Hi-Lift and some waffle boards in the interim but am yet to try them in anger.

I’ve found the Freelander able to cope with everything I’ve thrown at it so far, but I’m aware that as a result I don’t know its limits. The TC has stepped in a few times where more capable LRs would use diff lock and it has worked perfectly. Main issue I have found is ground clearance – some of the lanes I’ve tried have been very rutted and have offered no possibility of straddling. Will be sure to walk ahead to inspect now before driving!

Quite difficult for me to go out with another vehicle due to my work, but I’ll try getting in touch with a local GLASS rep/group (I’m already a member) and seeing if I can go out with some other laners. I accept this is a biggie but I’d rather do some easy lanes alone (well, as a single vehicle) and with precautions than not do any at all.
Thanks again for your input

Erdapfel said:

Thanks for the advice! (And sorry for the delayed reply.) I’m fast learning what is necessary and what not, though I suppose a winch would give me some peace of mind. I’ve got a Hi-Lift and some waffle boards in the interim but am yet to try them in anger.

I’ve found the Freelander able to cope with everything I’ve thrown at it so far, but I’m aware that as a result I don’t know its limits. The TC has stepped in a few times where more capable LRs would use diff lock and it has worked perfectly. Main issue I have found is ground clearance – some of the lanes I’ve tried have been very rutted and have offered no possibility of straddling. Will be sure to walk ahead to inspect now before driving!

Quite difficult for me to go out with another vehicle due to my work, but I’ll try getting in touch with a local GLASS rep/group (I’m already a member) and seeing if I can go out with some other laners. I accept this is a biggie but I’d rather do some easy lanes alone (well, as a single vehicle) and with precautions than not do any at all.
Thanks again for your input

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Provided you choose the right weather, and walk ahead if needed, you shouldn't have a problem, there are lots of easy lanes about.
Be careful with the Hi-lIft, they aren't that good as jacks, they are quite good for winching. But study safe operation, lots of people have lost teeth, or had fingers or noses broken.
The diff locks that Landrovers have as standard are only to lock up centre diff. Thus giving the capability that a Series would have in 4wd, no more. Traction control is an acceptable substitute.

+1.
Hi lift jack very handy but very dangerous bit of kit. Look up Ronny Dahl on Utube, he’s very good at showing you how to use winches, straps and jacks etc safely