Freelander 2 in Central Australia

[Jatbula]

First time here:
I have a FL2 HSE on low profile 19" tyres wanting to travel to Chambers Pillar, Finke Gorge, Palm Valley and Rainbow Valley etc in the West Macdonnell's. Looking for anyone who has done similar. I am anxious how the tyres will wear on the rough dirt and rocky roads and what tyre pressures are recommended. Naturally we'll be taking it easy, carrying a spare tyre and packed light. I have an alternative work car - 2005 Toyota dual cab 4wd. Ok I love the landie but given the tyre issue perhaps the Toyota would be better??? Thanks

[mikehzz]

I've done all those places in mine on 17" tyres. I had 1 tyre wrecked and another needed repairing. To minimize the risk you should let the pressure down but that causes problems with 19's as you risk pinching a sidewall or damaging a rim when you hit the unexpected rock. It will also be interesting if you encounter a few hundred kms of corrugations. You feel very naked out there if your spare is already in use and you don't have an extra. I carry 2 spares, one off the rim for that reason.
What you are contemplating is doable but not ideal, a bit like a rough bushwalk in high heels. Your peace of mind increases if the tyres are AT type or better. The Toyota would be better suited but if it has highway tyres and not LT construction I would be going very easy on them as well.

[Jatbula]

Mike thanks for that prompt help. Your thoughts tally with my thinking. Trade the comfort etc of the HSE with 19s for the workmate on 16 inch cooper atr's. Second spare tyre from the wreckers with some luck. The landie has at's but I've done inland qld in a forester with one shredded tyre and a slow leak getting worse on the 2nd spare and spent too many hrs reassuring my partner all was fine - keep smiling!!! Knowing we were pretty messy. So common sense has to rule. What gets me is the sales guy reassuring the 19's were totally fine (2nd hand HSE) and I fell for it cos all other aspects of the car are great. Thought if I needed to I'd just buy extra 17s - oh right! Not so easy. Bummer. Another Toyota heads off. Thanx again.

[mikehzz]

No worries. It's a pity because the FL2 is a very comfortable ride with the right tyres out there. Just think about the kilometres you aren't adding to it instead :) The people out there running the garages would say to run the Toyota around mid to high 20's psi on the gravel roads. A bit higher if you have a load on.

[Jatbula]

Hi Mike, thanks for the 20psi recommendation on the toyota. It's ex Victorian CFA so has decent footwear and very low kms for its age so I'll definitely go with that and let the corrugations rattle its panels about rather than the HSE. I think I'll also take things up with the Landrover dealership as I feel pretty duped. I very specifically asked whether the car I bought would be good for Fraser Island and was told I would have no problems whatsoever. Having been to FI years ago a number of times in various vehicles I knew some of the roads can be quite challenging. Anyway I was sold that the traction control was so amazing it would see me through anything, just to take it easy and watch ride height issues. Of course. I then sold myself watching various eastern Europeans and FL2s on youtube!

I'm pretty annoyed with the landrover dealership's sales rep on the tyre size issue, something this essentially city slicker didn't appreciate the importance of, I confess. If he'd been honest that the 19 inch tyres would be as good as useless off road and that replacing wheels with 16 or 17 inch would be almost impossible or cost me a fortune or risk my warranty I'd have chosen a base model TD4.

I'm reminded of the 'buyer beware' and 'never trust a sales rep' principles but would have presumed that a rep with a high end landrover dealership would either know his stuff and inform the buyer or be somewhat more honest. Feeling pretty miffed, I'm going to take it up with them.

Thanks again Mike, adios

[andrewchr]

Hi Jatbula
I can't comment on the FL2 around chambers pillar but it will certainly cope with Fraser Island. We had our old freelander td4 up there a few times and never came to grief (can't say the same about the original freelander). Good luck with both trips.
Andrew

[strangy]

Hi, the places you want to go to will easily be done on your tyres. The roads are good (for dirt)though there are some stetches of corrufations. Tyre pressure and speed is the key to a nice ride and no damage.

If you want to travel on dirt at 100km/h, damage the road, vehicle and behave like many of the other jerks touring through here....take your hilux and blend in....or put some LT rubber on the FL.

Pretty sure you wont be real happy driving all that way in the Hilux if you have Freelander at home.

cheers