Towing with a Freelander - opinions please

F

FinellaGlen

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 August 2007
Messages
2,659
Visit site
I know that the prevailing opinion on HHO has always been that only a stupid owner would tow with a Freelander but in this month's Horse mag there is an article which says that it's perfectly ok to tow a single horse and trailer with one. So who's right?

I'm currently waiting for the Landrover factory to build my new Freelander 2 TD4 (I wanted specific upholstery options because I'm fussy
grin.gif
) and I've asked for a factory fitted towbar so I am hoping that it will be ok for me to tow my Ifor 505 and 13.3 hh Highland with it
confused.gif
 
My friend tows a lightweight TB in a 505 with an "old style" Freelander. She has never had any trouble but always refuses to give anyone lifts as she knows it won't cope and will be overweight. I would imagine a 13.3hh would be ok, but if you get stuck in deep ground don't expect to be able to get out!
 
not if you follow the law it wont be. law says vehicle must be capable of towing the MAM of the trailer. the MAM of a 505 in 2.5tonnes (thereabouts) - the freelander's max towing capacity will be way less than this.

not everyone seems to know about this law, but VOSA do and they are cracking down on overweight combinations and doing a lot of spot checks. i wouldn't want to risk getting caught by them.
 
Oh, golly! I don't want to break the law. Do you know how the towing capacity is actually worked out? Is it the engine size alone or is is to do with the weight of the towing vehicle as well or are there other factors which are taken into account?
 
Really? Do you know anyone who's been checked and prosecuted?

Only because I used to tow a double trailer with one pony with a Saab estate (easily within weights and I only towed locally where I cpould park on hard standing). I contacted the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and they told me that I was fine. The law you mentioned is the EU law, but because GB's law (the car is capable of towing the actual weight of the trailer, not MAM) satisfies the point of the EU law (as in no over weight combinations) the GB law still stands. I was told you might be taken to a weigh bridge to check, but as long as you are within you are legal and it would be fine. It is on the DSA website somewhere. I used to have a copy in my car with me, but I now have a 4x4 so no longer have it.
 
i was told by a copper that GB has to follow that EU law. i've never seen it in writing. it doesn't really worry me coz i wouldn't tow with anything less than a decent 4x4. i waited till i could afford to buy and run one rather than towing with anything less suitable.
 
I personally wouldnt use a FL, I dont think they are man enough for the job and anything more than a lightweight trailer and a small pony will wreck your clutch and brakes very quickly. Oh and dont go off tarmac either or you may well need towing off, even damp grass willl cause you trouble.

The laws, both EU and GB are there to keep you SAFE not to annoy you and be flouted. Remember you may be invalidating your insurance by towing overweight.
 
I've only got around £26,000 to spend on a car
frown.gif
so I can't afford a big one. I am still confused as to whether or not I can tow with the Freelander 2. All the figures from Landrover and Ifor Williams seem to suggest that I can but I am not a lawbreaker so I need to know for certain. Does anyone have any more information please?
confused.gif
 
spaniel - it's got a 2.4 diesel engine so it's not that tiny I don't think
confused.gif
? My pony is only 13.3 hh and not heavily built (despite being a Highland).

Can you pay to use weighbridges to check your pony & trailer's weight?
 
Yes you can, you will need to find your local one and give them a ring but they should be open to the public. I have a friend with shires who is a regular!
 
I have seen it in writing, but I'm sorry, I don't have it now. I've had a look for it.

I rang the DSA. They were very helpful and e-mailed me the document. I printed it off and kept it with me. Maybe give them a ring on Monday?
 
26k will buy you loads of cars
confused.gif



I only paid 13k for my Kia, and yes it was a year old, so not brand new, but I would rather have a suitable car than a new one (not meaning to sound like I think you are being stuck up by the way)
grin.gif


With the current climate in car sales I would have thought that you would get a decent Disco for that and then you would have no worries
smile.gif


Even if you are legal with the Freelander, its lack of umph will be the early death of it...... You need umph to get you up hills and out of fields without burning out the clutch.

I have rarely read many replies that think it is a good idea
frown.gif
 
A 505 weighs about 900kg, I have a new Freelander 2 and was told when I picked it up I would have no problem towing upto 2 tonnes. I think unless someone on here has actually towed with it (I have a lorry) you should make you own mind up based on what Land Rover are telling you.
 
I too have a new one on order (wanted a manual and none in existence at the mo with the kit i want...think pimped!!) The freelander 2 is a completely different vehicle to the freelander1. I hada frellander1 for the grand total of 3 motnhs until i got rid of it. I swore i would never have another but the F2 is a totally different car.

The 4x4 capabilities are absolutely fine (I saw 2 separate lots of nissans and mitsubishis stuck at a recent HT and the freelander went whizzing past)

Re towing, the maximum weight that landrover say it can tow is 2000kgs. One horse and a 505 and a heap of kit will not get to that point.

I would be interested to know whether anyone has actually been prosecuted under this new "law". is it a law or a directive?!

I bet no-one would say a word if it were a range rover sport - however the similar sized engine is massively underpowered for towing (and generally for that matter (and drinks fuel like its going out of fashion)(thats what i am replacing btw)

I too have a lorry just now butthe dealers will be putting a tow bar on my new f2 so i can have the choice.
 
Thanks everyone for your input. I will do a bit more checking into the subject on Monday. Merlin'sQuest, the car has to be new but not 'cos I'm stuck up - lol
smile.gif
but because it's going to be a company car.

My Ifor weighs less than a 1000kg so, unless my pony and her kit weighs more than 1000kg, I should be within the legal limit but I am still going to investigage further. OH has been looking at small lorries for a few months so maybe that's going to be my next present? Fingers crossed!
 
I just needed to dig a bit deeper on this (I'm sad like that!) From what i can deduce(in my quick whirl around google, VOSA, DSA et al! ), it is absolutely correct that the MAM of the trailer must not exceed the vehicle WEIGHT (not towing capicity) However, only if the driver does NOT have a CATEGORY B+E allowance on their licence. (have a look at this for clarification licensed to tow
I have B+E on my licence -so if you have taken your trailer test or have grandfather rights (from pre1997) so do you!

Therefore, your 900kg 505+ 500kg horse plus water and kit (about 100kgs) will only come to 1500kgs, 75% of the maximum towing weight. 2.2 turbo diesel will have plenty of grunt, the 4x4 capabilites will be fine and whats more you will like the uphilstery!!
tongue.gif
 
I would definately be interested in your findings as I am also trying to decide if I can a)afford a 4X4 and b) which one would be best for me. My friend tows with a Xtrail and has had no problems towing her 15h horse and a 16h ID (although not at the same time). The Freelander is my other option - it has a slightly higher kerb weight than the Xtrail at 1555 vs 1525 but the difference in negligible. My friend spoke to Nissa directly and was told the braked towing capacity was 2500kg despite it only being reported as 2000kg in other places so it may be worth going direct to Landrover for the spec!

One thing I will say about the likes of the Xtrails and Freelanders is that you get as many good reviews as bad ones suggesting there is more of a risk in towing with these vehicles but for me, a once a month trip to a local show(which is all I'll do) is something that both of these vehicles should be able to handle
 
ok at the risk of sounding like a freelander obsessive....
blush.gif


The kerb weight of the Freelander2s is 1770 and upwards dependent on model. The maximum mass of vehicle and trailer combo is 4505kg with a maximum payload of 550 (including driver) (taking this directly from the brochure in front of me - I don't know them off by heart (yet!!)

I would be very wary of taking word of mouth that 2500kg is the nissans capability - particularly from a sales guy!!

One of my colleagues had a Nissan X-trail delivered 3 weeks ago and he too was dithering between that and the Freelander. Shall we just say he is wishing he had gone for the freelander!!

If you are only towing once a month you have to remember that the rest of the time you will be on the road and that is where you will probably have a preference between the 2. I do about 30k of miles a year and that was the deciding factor for me, CO2 emmisions wise were roughly the same, but the spec on the landrover was nicer.and ultimately a nicer drive on road.

I guess Finnella and I will be able to give the verdict on the new ones when they appear from the factory!!
 
Just to add our lorry was towed out of Blenheim, anyone who saw the mud will understand, but our friends Freelander 2 steamed through with no problems. Our lorry had to have a new radiator
frown.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
ok at the risk of sounding like a freelander obsessive....
blush.gif


The kerb weight of the Freelander2s is 1770 and upwards dependent on model. The maximum mass of vehicle and trailer combo is 4505kg with a maximum payload of 550 (including driver) (taking this directly from the brochure in front of me - I don't know them off by heart (yet!!)

I would be very wary of taking word of mouth that 2500kg is the nissans capability - particularly from a sales guy!!

One of my colleagues had a Nissan X-trail delivered 3 weeks ago and he too was dithering between that and the Freelander. Shall we just say he is wishing he had gone for the freelander!!

If you are only towing once a month you have to remember that the rest of the time you will be on the road and that is where you will probably have a preference between the 2. I do about 30k of miles a year and that was the deciding factor for me, CO2 emmisions wise were roughly the same, but the spec on the landrover was nicer.and ultimately a nicer drive on road.

I guess Finnella and I will be able to give the verdict on the new ones when they appear from the factory!!

[/ QUOTE ]

It's the TD4 I was looking at for kerb weight which is the model I'm more likely to be able to afford - don't suppose you know the kerbweight for that?

What kind of mpg do you get for non towing driving in your freelander?
 

I have a freelander 2.
I don't tow with it, but only because I have a wagon.
I think it is a totally different car to the old freelanders & I have driven it in some pretty hairy conditions (including some serious snow in Switzerland) so 'a bit of wet grass' will be absolutely fine
tongue.gif


I think from when I read up on it you can tow 2t. The engine will cope just fine, or indeed, no worse than any other 4x4 engine (depending on how you drive, of course).
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
To jump in on the question - They are all TD4s I think
Do you have a GS/XS/HSE?

I get 30MPG non towing and I have lead in my shoes

[/ QUOTE ]

Land Rover Freelander 2.0 Td4 Adventurer 5Dr is the one I'm looking at.
 
OMG 30mpg!!! I hope i get more than that - I am getting rid of the range rover to try to get more MPG!!

ok back to the brochures!

The TD4 is the diesel engine, the model types are the S, GS, XS, SE, HSE and HST. These all have individually different weights as they differ in spec (ie the HST has a lot of body kit bigger wheels etc so will weigh more that the S which is the basic model!) I think the adventurer must be a special edition as its not in here! However, the lightest one will be 1770kg so base your calcs on that!

I can safely say if it had been anything like the old freelander 1 I had (1.8 engine - couldn't pull a skin off rice pudding!) there is not a chance i would be spending this amount of cash on it!!

I can't belive what a diesel head i have become - was at a dinner last week and spent the evening discussing lorrys and cars the guy sitting next to me!! sad case!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
To jump in on the question - They are all TD4s I think
Do you have a GS/XS/HSE?

I get 30MPG non towing and I have lead in my shoes

[/ QUOTE ]

Land Rover Freelander 2.0 Td4 Adventurer 5Dr is the one I'm looking at.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you sure this isn't an old model? The freelander2 comes as a 2.2l Diesel and is in the models Avenger describes above

Avenger - I have an XS but I do do town driving as much as country.
grin.gif
 
in fact just clicked - the adventurer is a freelander1 - the freelander2s are 2.2 litre deisels - don't touch the adventurer for towing!!! Bloody awful things! The market at the moment is such that i reckon you would probably get a freelander 2 for a good price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top