Off roading

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Nandad

Nandad

Active Member
Posts
119
Location
Rame Peninsula
Hi The other half wants to play in the mud! What needs to be done to a td4 mk1 sport to let us play? Any suggestions re tyres, suspension etc.
And she will not be wearing a bikini if anyone asks! Thanks
 
In short - nothing! Freelander 1 is quite capable off road, check out hippophoto on YouTube. I wouldn't go serious mud plugging in one but I wouldn't do that in my disco 2 either! Fun to be had in a hippo without going mental ;) @Hippo
Ground clearance might be an issue in a sport though...
 
You'll struggle to get decent AT tyres for the 18" rims. So the best thing to do is get some 15" or 16" rims and then get suitable tyres for those. The sport also has lowered suspension. So if ground clearance is an issue, you'll need to fit standard suspension too.
 
It would be a good idea to replace the guard under the engine with something stronger. The original has a plastic bit int middle which is kind of well er plastic. The outer frame is metal and stronger. If yer have a look int Freelander section on ere you'll see a number of peeps have added metal to the frame to replace the plastic. Cut, bend, bolt yerself. Yer can buy the old man tec guards but only second hand.

Yer dun't have to go mad oft road to enjoy yerself. I choose to keep out of deep water. It's full of sh... mud, clay, sand, bit of tratter... and causes havoc to brakes, oil seals, bearing etc. Peeps like to charge in with it splashing all over the roof but it just coats yer engine in muck.

It's true ground clearance is a bit of an issue but if yer choose yer route carefully you'll have fun all day. You'll need a propper recovery rope (I use a 30 foot pro comp + another but not sure if yer can still buy these or what the replacement is) and some D shackles.
 
+1 Off road tyres are the single most significant mod you need to make by some margin. If you only change one thing - get some AT or MT tyres. As has been said this is much cheaper and you have far more options on 15 and 16 inch rims.
 
If yer tread pattern is too ruff it will make for a horrible ride. The FL1 suspension can't take out the tread rumble in the same way the bigger LR's can. I took my AT2's oft and got rid for this reason.
 
Thanks people. All advice, information and warnings gratefully accepted and will be acted on. Maybe I can talk her out of the mud onto the grass. Done some green laneing in the past on a bike so I might give that a go.
Thanks again
Nodge68 said:
You'll struggle to get decent AT tyres for the 18" rims. So the best thing to do is get some 15" or 16" rims and then get suitable tyres for those. The sport also has lowered suspension. So if ground clearance is an issue, you'll need to fit standard suspension too.
Click to expand...
Is it just a case of getting a set of 16" rims from any model? Think I read somewhere mk1 & 2 had different offsets and stud pcd plus the possibly of fouling?
Suspension: Is it just a case of spring length or the whole assembly? Is there any difference in mountings amongst the varying models?
 
Think the wheels changed at MY01 (the change from yellow to clear indicators not the 'facelift'). So wheels from cars up to '99 will only fit cars up to '99, but wheels from cars 2000 and after will fit any F1.

Think its to do with bigger brakes and the wheels need to clear them, stud pattern is the same.

F2 has different wheels, won't fit F1.
 
GrumpyGel said:
Think the wheels changed at MY01 (the change from yellow to clear indicators not the 'facelift'). So wheels from cars up to '99 will only fit cars up to '99, but wheels from cars 2000 and after will fit any F1.

Think its to do with bigger brakes and the wheels need to clear them, stud pattern is the same.

F2 has different wheels, won't fit F1.[/QUOTE

Thanks for an clear answer that doesn't tax my brain
Click to expand...
 
Another option might be to pick up a cheap disco to play with, depends how much doing it in the freelander means to you.
 
Nandad said:
Thanks people. All advice, information and warnings gratefully accepted and will be acted on. Maybe I can talk her out of the mud onto the grass. Done some green laneing in the past on a bike so I might give that a go.
Thanks again

Is it just a case of getting a set of 16" rims from any model? Think I read somewhere mk1 & 2 had different offsets and stud pcd plus the possibly of fouling?
Suspension: Is it just a case of spring length or the whole assembly? Is there any difference in mountings amongst the varying models?
Click to expand...
Fitting springs and shocks all round from a 2006 FL1 will put your Sport to the highest standard hight. Your lift will then make a worthwhile increase in hight over standard. I can't see the point in lifting a standard pre-2006 Sport on blocks, because it'll only be at standard Freelander hight afterwards.
 
Nandad said:
Thanks for the offer but I live in Cornwall
Click to expand...

I'll soon be moving on a full set of 17" Trek rims. 4 of them with larger AT tyres fitted. The tyres are worn but still got 1000s of miles in them. The spare is a standard size 17" tyre, which is like new.
Let me know if your interested. I'm also in Cornwall.
 
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