Freelander v.s Discovery...towing etc
Discussion
Hi, I'm new to all this so hope you guys can answer my questions...
I am looking into buying a 4x4, mainly for towing my horse and a bit of off roading.
I like the Freelanders, but have heard people say they aren't really heavy enough to tow well and that they go wrong fairly frequently?
Is this the case do you find? If so, is a Discovery better?
I don't have a huge budget so also need to know which is likely to be the better value for money second hand.
Thanks!
I am looking into buying a 4x4, mainly for towing my horse and a bit of off roading.
I like the Freelanders, but have heard people say they aren't really heavy enough to tow well and that they go wrong fairly frequently?
Is this the case do you find? If so, is a Discovery better?
I don't have a huge budget so also need to know which is likely to be the better value for money second hand.
Thanks!
Not saying that the freelander is the right one for you but, I once worked for a Marquee company who had a Freelander and a Disco for there towing. Everyday we would load up the trailers with heavy gear hock up the land rovers and go. There where also 3-4 big chaps in the cars. Other than the freelander (51 plate TD4) not having a low gear box there was nothing wrong with the way it towed the double axle trailer.
It did a hard 50K and never went wrong other than routine servicing and about 2-3 clutches. I do however think it was getting knackered but the engine was still going very well.
It did a hard 50K and never went wrong other than routine servicing and about 2-3 clutches. I do however think it was getting knackered but the engine was still going very well.
I'd start by checking the weight of your loaded trailer and the towing capacity of both vehicles, as that might make the decision for you.
Also, is your horse box a twin axle? If so, it'll have significantly more drag which might lean you towards the more powerful option. I used to tow two similar boats regularly with the same vehicle, and the one on the twin axle trailer needed a much heavier right foot to maintain speed.
Also, is your horse box a twin axle? If so, it'll have significantly more drag which might lean you towards the more powerful option. I used to tow two similar boats regularly with the same vehicle, and the one on the twin axle trailer needed a much heavier right foot to maintain speed.
We have an 03 plate freeland and a 96 disco tdi auto.
We like our freelander but for towing anything other than a camping trailer ,small boat or caravan forget it,the discovery is what you need.
The main problem we have noticed with the freelander is if you need to pull away on steep incline with a loaded trailer on the back, the clutch is just not upto the job a will not last very long.
We have a 19ft ski boat with a big V8 in it and the freelander just wont pull it out of the water and up the slipway without the cluch smelling badly,discovery pulls it without effort
and thats in high range,low box is never required except for on the sand.
Buy a good used disco.
We like our freelander but for towing anything other than a camping trailer ,small boat or caravan forget it,the discovery is what you need.
The main problem we have noticed with the freelander is if you need to pull away on steep incline with a loaded trailer on the back, the clutch is just not upto the job a will not last very long.
We have a 19ft ski boat with a big V8 in it and the freelander just wont pull it out of the water and up the slipway without the cluch smelling badly,discovery pulls it without effort
and thats in high range,low box is never required except for on the sand.Buy a good used disco.
I'd always go for the bigger option of the disco... One of the racers though happily towed a tasmin racer on a 4 wheel trailer with 2 freelanders for a number of years with no trouble... and that combo must be getting to the limit for a gaylander...
Also in our series there was one freelander towing but at one point 6 discoveries !! and the first freelander did leave him stranded at angelsey when it dropped a liner...
Also in our series there was one freelander towing but at one point 6 discoveries !! and the first freelander did leave him stranded at angelsey when it dropped a liner...
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