designer
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 05:05 PM |
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Freelander as a tow car
Are automatic Freelanders any good as a tow car?
Or do I need one with a manual gearbox?
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steve m
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 05:15 PM |
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Really depends on what your towing
What engine is in it?
If its a camping trailer type then i would say its fine,
I used to tow a 6 berth caravan, with a Rover SD1 V8 auto, and that was fine,
But if my old Rover 75 was an auto with a 1800 k series, it would not of got of the driveway !!
(my 75 was a manuel, and only just managed to tow my 2 berth van)
Steve
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rayward
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 05:22 PM |
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i had the 1.8 petrol freelander, and wouldn;t recommend it to tow anything whether it was an auto or manual
hth
Ray
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zilspeed
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 05:39 PM |
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My mate has a Freelander which he deliberately disconnected the RWD from.
Reason being.
Apparently, the rear propshaft is geared differently to the front. Why, I know not.
The difference is taken up by the viscous coupling which consquently has a pretty hard life.
It eventually fails and bits of transmission get eaten.
Hence, before it ate itself, he made it 2WD.
I would like to point out that he lives in rural Scotland where getting snowed in is a distinct possibility.
(Tyndrum)
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mark chandler
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 05:42 PM |
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series 1 or series 2?
I know the series 2 diesels are very good and can be chipped to 200bhp 
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designer
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 05:46 PM |
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It's just for towing the kit around.
Haven't bought yet, just looking.
Might have to change my mind, pick something else.
What do you lot suggest?
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JoelP
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 05:57 PM |
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normal estate car tbh, plenty of room for tackle and useful all year round.
im thinking a4 tdi for myself, but might stretch to a t5 
[Edited on 19/8/11 by JoelP]
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norfolkluego
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 06:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by designer
It's just for towing the kit around.
Haven't bought yet, just looking.
Might have to change my mind, pick something else.
What do you lot suggest?
Any of the big 4x4s would do the job easily, just tend to drink like fish. I used a Pajero (auto), main problem was remembering the trailer was there
it's such a good tow car AND 15-18 mpg
Now use a V40 estate, not quite as good as a tow car (but good enough) but much more comfortable and 38 mpg towing
[Edited on 19/8/11 by norfolkluego]
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GreigM
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 06:17 PM |
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I'd say any modernish diesel estate will do the job - I tow the westfield with a Mazda 6 estate 2.0 diesel and its fantastic - easily cruises on
the motorway at whatever you speed you want and acres of space in the back for tyres/tools etc - if you don't need the pulling power it is a far
better option than any 4x4
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britishtrident
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 06:34 PM |
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ISTR Freelander auto had the JATCO 5 speed pre 2001 or so these boxes were very prone to the valve body cracking.
With all the JATCO 5 speed boxes fluid level and fluid condition is hyper critical it pays to get the box service by a specialist on or before the
60,000 mile mark.
.
Viscose couplings siezing up is fairly common -- seems worse on Ford era vehicles, in normal driving when turning a corner the front wheels have to
turn a wider radius than the rears so the fronts have turn faster.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 06:39 PM |
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Just my personal opinion, but if you are going to go for a 4x4 why not go for a Disco? If you get the 300TDi 2.5L they pull like a train. Ours is auto
but I have had lots of issues with the EDC (Electronic Diesel Control) so converted it to a non-EDC system but the manuals are not EDC as far as I
know, unkess you go for the later models which are a real PITA apparently, bristling with electronics.
The thing I like about the Disco is that I can pull most things I need to, (even pulled our previous Disco on a trailer to VOSA  ). But the thing is
they are comfortable too, and we get mid 20's and better if we try so not that bad for 2.5 tons!
Anyway, that's my tuppence worth 
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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mookaloid
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 07:09 PM |
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As a general point - automatics are brilliant for towing
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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ChrisW
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 07:14 PM |
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My automatic diesel Audi pulls a car transporter trailer fine. Most weight I've had on the back was 1200kg + trailer. Remember if you passed
after mid-1997 you're limited to 3500kg train weight with the trailer being lighter than the tow car.
Chris
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MK9R
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 07:44 PM |
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Personally I prefer a 4x4 to tow with, mainly due to its weight, but also you can load them up inside too. I towed with my mondeo estate, but with the
huge overhange and extra weight on the tow hitch and the boot full, it dragged its arse along the floor. I fitted helper springs but still not great
and ate inside edges of tyres. My mates 3 series touring is the same.
Freelander diesel is ok for towing, just change the viscous like you would a cambelt, it should be a service item. I sell recon vcu's for £200
(see our site bellengineering.co.uk and read up on the issues/things to look for) . If its gonna be an everyday car and a tow car the freelander is a
decent choise. If its just a tow car still ok, but why not go for a slightly bigger one like the disco or shogun, or a pickup. Alternatively a flat
bed transit, get rid of the trailer and put it towards the trannnsit, you can get a nice 11ft bed with tail lift for £2500
Cheers Austen
RGB car number 9
www.austengreenway.co.uk
www.automatedtechnologygroup.co.uk
www.trackace.co.uk
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RickRick
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 07:55 PM |
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530D ace mpg i'm getting close to 50mpg on the trip to and from work driving like a nun, air self leveling rear suspension, boots smaller than
you'd think but still a decent size towing a long 700kg car and trailer you forget it's there
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StevieB
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 09:00 PM |
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I used my father in laws diesel freelander to tow my indy to SVA and didn't enjoy the experience at all.
The engine was fine and pulled well, but the bouncy suspension made unsettled the trailer a bit too much for my liking. I then got a tow bar fitted
to my Volvo S60 D5 and that was much better - more power/torque and much more civilised in the ride quality department, which kept the trailer from
bouncing around too much.
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morcus
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 10:12 PM |
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Am I write in thinking you had to get the V6 to get a Mk1 with an autobox?
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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RazMan
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| posted on 19/8/11 at 10:53 PM |
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I've got a TD4 Freelander and these are far better than the old Rover engined diesels - avoid the 1.8 petrol at all cost. You can chip the TD4
for towing and still get 35-40mpg with a decent low down boost in torque. It is actually the slowest car I have owned for years .............. but I
love it!
[Edited on 19-8-11 by RazMan]
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