Freelender in sand

[Munners17]

Hi guys

Looking for experiences taking a freelander in soft sand. Has anyone done places like Stockton beach, Fraser island etc?

I currently drive a HiLux and am looking at a 2005 TD4 Freelander. The HiLux is rough but pretty capable (stock standard except for AT tyres) and I'm worried abut the Freebies lack of clearance and low range.

I've seen Honda CR-V's and the like just sit and spin their front wheels in softsand but always thought the Freelander was better than those.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

Munners

[Reads90]

The freelander is very good off road for what it is.

But in sand the lack of Low box lets it down and can cause the clutch to go quickly on manuals. Autos are better. But still can have problems due to lack of low box. also depends how you are going to dirive. Up and down the beach fine and the old across the soft stuff onto the beach fine, but start drivng on lots of soft stuff and try to climb sand dunes then forget it

[spudboy]

I've done a bit of driving with a Freelander (auto) in deep Sth Australian sand, and I was surprised how good it was. I was in a 110, and this little Freelander got everywhere we got to, not as easily in the deep rutted stuff, but more easily in the smooth stuff (lot less weight).

It had a couple of "2nd attempts" to get through during the day, but it surprised me how good it was.

HTH
David

[Scouse]

I've found the Td4 auto to be brilliant in sand. It out performs my RR & even the D3s on the drive days I've attended at Stockton Beach.

Any car can get stuck in the sand though so experience & common sense still counts.

[Mockery]

Yep, I have the '05 Td4 Auto, sand is where it shines most.

Nice low tyre pressures should see you right anywhere, only place I struggle is where it's deeply rutted, and the more extreme hillclimbs.
More power and clearance needed...

[SuperMono]

Drive appropriately and don't try anything really deep/soft/steep without a Dinosaur around just in case.
I had no trouble around Robe but didn't try climbing the bigger dunes.

[101RRS]

Low range is normally not much use in the sand anyway - it just digs you in. Ground clearance is an issue but the front undertray should help skid over the deeper bits.

Garry

[Munners17]

Cool, thanks guys.

Thats about what I thought. Capable but not a rock crawler......

Cheers

Munners

[Scouse]

Cool, thanks guys.

Thats about what I thought. Capable but not a rock crawler......

Cheers

MunnersYou would be surprised where they can go.

Daniels Point Rd (or is this part Maculata?)
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/freelander/20671d1259124214-freelender-sand-mvc-0051.jpg

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/freelander/20672d1259124237-freelender-sand-mvc-0052.jpg

[Reads90]

You would be surprised where they can go.

Daniels Point Rd (or is this part Maculata?)



Yeah

This is my brothers old Freelander on the Paris Dakar (did well although had fun in the sand dunes)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/268.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/269.jpg

and racing it back in the UK

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/270.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/271.jpg

and his wifes one

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/272.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/273.jpg

[Munners17]

You would be surprised where they can go.



Yeah i am actually! Thanks for the pictures, they have opened my eyes a bit.

Anyone have any advice for buying these (2005 + ) models?

I've read about the IRD problems etc for the earlier models but I believe these later ones are a lot better????

Any tips?

Cheers

Munners

[Scouse]

I really can't say a bad thing about the last of the Freelander 1's.
Just look for the usual service history & that's about it.

The only thing I've really heard go wrong is the odd fuel pump so listen out for a noisy one (that's if they get noisy before dying).

[Tusker]

Haven't had my FL2 in sand yet - it has a SWMBO problem.

More seriously, I think Freeland sand performance would be dictated by tyres, whether FL1 or FL2 . Avoid the HSE type top-of-the-line low profile tyres, they'll be next to useless. The cheaper model spec, taller tyres will bag out better.

Regards
Max P

[vnx205]

I was told a story that might illustrate an important point about Freelanders in the sand. The story is fairly old, so some things might nave changed since then, but I think the key point remains the same.

I was told by someone whose job it was to approve warranty work on Land Rovers that the son of a LR dealer had taken some potential customers onto Stockton beach in a Freelander. He bogged it and burnt out the clutch attempting to get out.

When he tried to claim it under warranty, LR's response was to ask him if he had read the manual where it said to reduce tyre pressures in sand. He hadn't, so the claim was denied because he hadn't followed the instructions in the manual.

The point of the story is that reducing tyre pressures in sand is not just a good idea, as everyone already knows, but LR expects you to do it.

Another interesting warranty claim story he told me was that the Navy was told they couldn't claim warranty on the brake disks of their Defender. LR considered that having the Defender exposed to salt spray, chained to the deck of a Navy ship to be unloaded for use in port did not constitute normal use.

[101RRS]

LR considered that having the Defender exposed to salt spray, chained to the deck of a Navy ship to be unloaded for use in port did not constitute normal use.

But that is how Land Rover deliver many of their cars to remote locations - Torres Strait for example.

Garry

[Disco44]

You would think that they would have to come on that coastal freighter from Cairns.It calls at Seisha and Thursday Island ( among others ..I think ).Road Transport goes to Weipa. I sat behind one for a while when I was heading to the Cape.Asked the driver how long the suspension lasted as his was a weekly service to Weipa.His answer " about a month then a complete overhaul".I did not run into one transport north of the Weipa turnout.That,s why I surmise they would use the coastal freighter.

[vnx205]

But that is how Land Rover deliver many of their cars to remote locations - Torres Strait for example.

Garry
And this is how all vehicles are delivered to Norfolk Island. I have seen a picture of a much bigger vehicle sideways across two lighters in the same fashion, but can't find it at the moment.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/16/2005444/car1.jpg

[mikehzz]

I've had my Freelander 2 TD4 up on the dunes at Stockton many times and it is impressive. It's been up massive dunes first go that pulled up Cruisers and Patrols until their 3rd and 4th attempt. It also cruised up Big Red the hard way first go. Its been stuck a few times but my fault not the cars. I had to get used to how the DSC and traction control works.

[Mockery]

Here's some pics I posted in the other 'pictures' thread; this was my first time offroad, and sand was a good place to start learning.

I did make it up all the hills shown, just needed a couple of attempts because I hadn't learned yet to get a good run-up, keep flooring it, and pick a good line. Great fun was had anyway.

The tyres here are 235/75R15's which bag out nicely and punt along well on the soft stuff, light weight & auto helps keep the floating momentum, and the traction control does its thing well enough as long as there's some grip to be found...





http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/RCMike/4x4/P9271316.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/RCMike/4x4/P9271312.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/RCMike/4x4/P9271385.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/RCMike/4x4/P9271387.jpg