I know same ole subject BUT Freelanders

grandmaweloveyou

grandmaweloveyou

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To those of you that do have them, and those of you that tow with them what do you tow with them i.e. what trailer do you use and what horse/s do you travel with? What are there towing max weights? Thanks. Thinking of buying one and no, I cannot afford a disco before everyone else shouts at me to get a disco, nor do I like disco's (sorry those that have them) I am only just braving upgrading to something this big. Oh last question, if you got this far.....Is the diesel really that much cheaper to run than petrol and does it affect its performance? Thanks again.
 
Well, I cant really answer your questions but I can give you my opinion
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My OH has one but its the 2.0L. He got stuck in mud in France earlier this year and it took Nissan Patrol to pull him out. He doesnt rate them at all - they are quite low down compared to most 4x4s, door pillars are quite thick reducing vision, no low ratio gear box. OH just said that he thinks they are a 'toy' and he wouldnt want to tow anything other than a single 16hh horse. His car is 06 plate.

Sorry to those who rate the Freelander. This is my OH's opinion and no offence was intended
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Sorry to say but you are putting your horses life at risk by towing with a freelander.They are not heavy enough to maintain control when going downhill/uphill or braking.There are better smaller 4x4's out there without going down the Disco route.What about a Diahtsu fourtrack,Nissan Terrano/Ford Maverick.
 
The Freelander will tow 2ton - now bearing in mind that it's safest to stick to 75% of the payload you should only load up with 1.5ton - An Ifor Williams 510 weighs 1ton and a horse can weigh up to 600kg or more - depending upon size so you'd have to think twice if you wanted to tow a big horse - but it would do it - especially if you got a lighter bateson and only towed ponies or small horses - HOWEVER... I agree that it's not the right vehicle for the job - buy a defender - they'll tow your house!
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Kate x
 
I have to disagree, our freelander has towed a double ivor williams and you wouldnt even think that there was a horse box on! In the box was a 15.2h tb and my 13.2hh heavy cob. It took us up a steep mountain hill and down it again.

Talking to a land rover specialist, he said they are good towing vehicles. My friend has a nissan 4x4, cant remember name but begins with T. When he pulls a box the jeep can actually start swaying. When he tried our jeep out he was impressed and now wants one.

The disco is the best for pulling, they are like a tank, but im sticking to my freelander!
 
A Freelander is not suitable for a towing vehicle. You have to remember that not only does it have to tow, but it also has to brake a trailer with horse(s) coming down hill. Sadly, I have seen the result of a trailer being towed with an unsuitable vehicle - the trailer actually overtook the vehcile coming down a hill
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Definitely don't waste your money on a Freelander. You can get a Pajero for the same money or less, and they are well up to the job. Unless you are pulling small ponies I would never tow with a Freelander - and would feel uncomfortable even towing tinies TBH.

We had a Freelander, which with one of our horses was within the legal limit for towing but it just didn't feel right. Half a mile up the road we stopped and went back home. Not worth risking anything. Sold it, got a Paj and have never looked back.
 
does anyone know if the weight of the 07 plate Freelander is any different to 2ton? just that I saw an 07 plate Defender towing a Equitrek Show Trekka (think it was the L size) so realistically if it had a 500kg horse in plus the trailer of 1250kg it would be well over and struggling would it not?
 
thanks everyone, due to a timewaster that keeps mucking me about on my car it seems the decision has been made for me anyway, cant buy anything yet. back to the drawing board.
 
Quite apart from towing capabilities Freelanders have a poor reputation for build quality - I had one and it cost me a fortune to keep it going, the novelty ran out after 2 years and £3K of bills!
 
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I have to disagree, our freelander has towed a double ivor williams and you wouldnt even think that there was a horse box on! In the box was a 15.2h tb and my 13.2hh heavy cob. It took us up a steep mountain hill and down it again.

Talking to a land rover specialist, he said they are good towing vehicles. My friend has a nissan 4x4, cant remember name but begins with T. When he pulls a box the jeep can actually start swaying. When he tried our jeep out he was impressed and now wants one.

The disco is the best for pulling, they are like a tank, but im sticking to my freelander!

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you were towing illegaly when you did that. an ifor weighs 1 ton on its own and id say the ponies/horses about 500kg each. now add your hay and your overweight, thus makeing you illegal and voiding your insurance.

i realy wouldnt tow with a freelander. one girl at my local RC does with an ifor and one welsh D. the freelander will not go up the hill with the pony in the trailer so she has to unload and walk the pony up the drive.
my friend tows 2 heavy cobs in an ifor with a LWB terrano and realy rates it!
 
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