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Light Overland Vehicle Tech Tech issues, tips and hints, prepping for travel
Under 3500kg vehicles, e.g. Land Cruiser, Land Rover, Subaru etc.
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



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  #1  
Old 15 Jan 2012
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Freelander
So what is to be made of this vehicle? ----- the Freelander.

I can't remember seeing mention of it within the HUBB but I guess there will be an owners' webpage somewhere else on the internet.

Would you/do you own one?
Pros and cons of ownership?

What can they do, what can't they do?
Limitations?
Experience of living with one.

As far as I know, there is a mark 1 and a mark 2 and there is just a small range of engines - any input about those variants?

Just one plea; please don't go
A couple of times recently I have tried to contribute to threads about 4x4 travel and they just swing very quickly to the eternal LR or LC "debate".
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  #2  
Old 15 Jan 2012
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The one of choice in the Freelander 1 is TD4 (ie the second diesel fitted after2001 IIRC) The petrol engines had a few probs , the other thing is Viscous coupling between front and rear axles has a somewhat limited life and if you dont pick up on it going u/s it can cause serious ( Much $) damage to the final drive and IRD .
They can perform surprisingly well in difficult conditions, but are a lifestyle vehicle same as many other such offerings eg Rav 4 CRV etc

The mk 2 is supposed to be a big improvement (as is often the case) HTSH

Probably pay to go and read on a freelander forum ,
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  #3  
Old 16 Jan 2012
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Freelander 1
Hi Dave,

Got a bit of experience with Freelander 1 - they're better than you'd think. Took one to the Sahara four times plus the Alps, Pyrenees and Corsica. Main drawbacks are lack of underbody clearance and no low ratio gearbox.

Regarding clearance, Bearmach do a 50mm lift kit and you should fit a Mantec sump guard. Nothing to be done about low ratio so go for an auto, that's what the Land Rover Experience centres did. Helps with rock crawling.
Td4 is the engine to go for. The 2.0 petrol overheats and the V6 is thirsty and gutless.

On mine I swapped the road tyres and alloys for steel wheels and BFG A/Ts, put a Hannibal rooftent and rack up top and removed the rear seats to fit a cargo bed and bulkhead.





Happy trails,

Jojo
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Old 16 Jan 2012
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Keep it coming
Guys,
Many thanks for the last 2 posts; this is all sounding pretty good and the Mk 1s are cheaper on the market than the later Mk2s.

Anymore for anymore?
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Old 16 Jan 2012
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I’ve not used one in anger but have been a passenger in both types. MK1 was surprisingly competent off road, traction control doing it’s stuff. There was a significant facelift to the MK1 btw at some point. All the petrol engines have a poor reliability reputation (K Series overheating issues, the V6 I think has it’s roots in the K series).
The MK2 seemed a huge step forward to me. Very refined on road, nice build quality and significantly bigger. Recognise it’s limitations and I think it would be a great all rounder.
Russ
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Old 16 Jan 2012
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Interested to read this. I was recently toying with the idea of a freelander at some point in the next few years (a hip op is going to effectively rule out riding motos off-road) for modest trips to Morocco and the like.

I reckon for two people travelling light it could be a good bet. I've also heard they are surprisingly good off-road. A more 'gnarly' alternative would be a Hi-Lux/Surf I suppose.

There are also loads of them for sale on auto-trader and the like and they are cheap as chips. The vast numbers of them around should make spares availability good.

Will be interested to see how/if this thread develops!

Matt
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