Got my car dirty - Freelander to the rescue

**101RRS** · 16th December 2010, 06:14 PM

I decided to go for a relaxing drive in the RRS on a nice road just west of Canberra (Tidbinbilla Road) - no intention of 4wd just a relaxing drive.

On the way around I went onto a dirt road (not offroad) to check something out and this happened

I was at onroad height and saw a bit ahead where someone has chewed up the road a bit where water had come across the road - I selected offroad height and mud ruts (hi range) and proceeded at about 10kph - there was then a failure to proceed either forward or reverse as I had bellied out and was crossed up.

We went into extended height mode and then to super extended mode (I think - other than a bong how do you know you are in super extended as nothing happened with the height) going into extended did not raise the body just pushed the wheels deeper into the clay - stayed crossed up and TC did not seem to work as the loose wheels continued to spin and wheels with some grip stayed still. I line with Freelander TC technology I gunned it and started turning the front wheels back and forth but the TC did not seem to work and I was not sure the CDL had engaged. (why isn't there a manual override switch to turn the CDL). Interestingly the engine would not go over 2700 rpm with the accelerator pushed to the floor.

No movement in Mud Ruts so I tried various setting with both Hi/Lo - best seemed to be the rocky settings - but still stuck.

Didn't have any gear with me as I was not going offroad and was not offroad - using sticks I cleared some of the clay away from the tyres, let them down to about 10psi and pick sticks and rocks under the the tyres - the chassis was totally bottomed out on both sides - like a beached whale. Still no luck - still crossed up with TC not doing much. Thought about using the standard jack but it would not have worked so did not bother. What was needed was to lift it up and stand stuff under the "road tyres". It is a shame that going to Access height would not lift the wheels up in these circumstances - if it did stuff could be put under the tyres when bellied out. An exhaust jack would have been perfect.

As I was not going to get out easily by myself I rang a mate to bring my Freelander over with my gear to do a snatch. Connected up and out she popped easy peasy.

Who said Freelanders were all sookie and gay.

Here is the hole - the RR was actually held by about 1 square foot of dirt - the other areas were just sitting on the dirt with no real force.

The main issues are poor tyres, low ground clearance even at offroad height (it is too late to go higher when you get stuck), TC not working as well as it should have and the operator not knowing all the tricks of the vehicle.

So where can I find out what actually happens in the vehicle when each of the Terrain Response settings are selected and is there a way I do not know about to confirm CDL is locked and it is shame the wheels could not be lifted when Access Height is selected when you are bottomed out.

When finances improve a bit I think proper tyres, Llams and exhaust jack (should work well on the flat underside) are on the cards.

Thought I would just share. Oh I don't think I would have bogged the Freelander in the same spot but I know it and its capabilities more than I do the RRS and it has BFGs ATs rather than road tyres.

Cheers

Garry

**Scouse** · 16th December 2010, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by garrycol

it is too late to go higher when you get stuck

That normally works quite well. I'm sure it's what enabled Discoweb to get out of the reknown bog hole up near the Zig Zag railway.

As you said though, this time it only seemed to push the tyres deeper into the mud so that's why it didn't help in this instance.

**Mike_S** · 16th December 2010, 08:08 PM

I managed to get mine stuck on a LR Experience day at Eastnor Castle earlier this year, very similar situation to yourself but it was somewhat staged to make sure we all got stuck in the most innocuous looking situation, no way would I have expected it to sink.

Fully extended and in mud ruts mode. I tried a few things first, much like you have and then the LRE instructor stuck his head through the window with a new suggestion. Into 'sport' mode, select 2nd gear and switch off the DSC then boot it. Sounded a bit crude to me but it worked, the centre & rear diffs locked up and after some serious scrabbling it came out of the mud

OK, I then lost momentum trying to avoid a tree and got stuck again, meaning the safest way out was on the end of a rope on the back of the LRE Defender but hey, I learnt something new about the car that day

The only 2 vehicles to get through were the LRE Defenders on Goodyear MTR's, this is one of them (with the offending tree) doing his damndest to not get stuck.

**101RRS** · 16th December 2010, 08:36 PM

I knew about switching off DSC but forgot all about it

. I had one tyre on reasonably good ground with sticks and rocks under it and if I could get drive to it I would have been out. I was surprised how poor the TC worked - in fact worse than my FL1 which is first generation TC - in fact the FL1 is the first landy to have four channel TC and one of the few cars to have it on drum brakes.

Cheers

Garry

**Tote** · 16th December 2010, 08:59 PM

I was going to suggest turning DSC off as well, I got the D3 in serious trouble in the bottom of the dam at Gundaroo not long after I bought it, eventually got out by myself but not turning DSC off and crap tyres make a difference, have never come close since with the General Grabbers and more experience with the vehicle under my belt.

Regards,
Tote

**Hoges** · 16th December 2010, 09:02 PM

Quote: "Got my car dirty - Freelander to the rescue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I decided to go for a relaxing drive in the RRS on a nice road just west of Canberra (Tidbinbilla Road) - no intention of 4wd just a relaxing drive.

On the way around I went onto a dirt road (not offroad) to check something out and this happened

Several thoughts come to mind:

1. When driving a LR ...any LR...every path becomes the challenge you make it

2. " no intention of 4wd just a relaxing drive" ...Freudian talk for ...just a relaxing (4WD) drive....(thinks)... 'cause I'm in a RRS in HIGH RANGE, proper 4wd requires LOW range so this doesn't count

3. ...

4. Glad you had a good time!!

40+ yrs ago as kids we used explore that part of the coiuntry in a well used Morris 1100 with "winter tread" tyres and a pumped up fluid suspension for added ground clearance .....it's a wonderful place

**chuck** · 16th December 2010, 09:19 PM

Garry

I did the same on my first rip out with the D3.
Forgot about DSC did not select command shift mode etc etc.

Did the same in about 500mm of snow - I seelcted snow mode when I should have been in mud'n'ruts.

These cars are great but you have to know what to select, turn off etc.

I think there is also a fear factor with a new car which is exagerated when technology is not selected correctly.

If you have a club in Canberra spend some time with other D3/RRS owners.

Regards

Chuck

**101RRS** · 16th December 2010, 09:42 PM

Also a RRS drives like crap on standard tyres at 10psi. I had the air compressor in the recovery kit but half way through pumping up the first tyre - the switch fried itself (the second time it has done this). So note to self to remove small automotive switch and hard wire with a "big hi amp" switch installed inline in the cable. My mate drove it home for me and he said it was trying to fall over on corners as we drove home at 50kph.

Also I have a 10 tonne snatch strap that I have only used twice - once to snatch my brother's Triton with the 101 on Stockton and this one. On both occasions there was a severe jolt in the towing vehicle rather than a slow build up of tension in the strap like my previous straps. All nice and smooth in the vehicle being snatched though - I suspect my strap is either a bit too big (I bought it to snatch the 101 - which weighs half a tonne less than the RRS but 3.5t when loaded) or not made well enough to allow it to stretch. I use an really old frayed snatch strap as a tow rope but I might decommission it and use this current strap which does not have much give.

Garry

**stig0000** · 16th December 2010, 11:14 PM

not been harsh but that looked very easy to stradle them ruts

well at least its been used, we got a email from a customer about a new supercharged sport, and it was boged in a hole, was prity much at the door handles, only problem was it was prity much at the door handles INSIDE as well, so you came away well off

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 17th December 2010, 12:41 AM

OMG,, Tidbinbilla rd,,,

the last time I was there I think we covered the whole thing in 30 odd seconds,,

but it was a while ago----

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