Thread: Freelender in sand

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).

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

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.

Originally Posted by vnx205

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

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.

Originally Posted by garrycol

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.

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.