FL’s are not off-roaders, huh?
- Thread starter Freddie17
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I pulled a friend in his D2 out of a mud hole, twice, using my FL1 V6. This was the same mud hole that I simply drove through before he did, again twice.
The FL1 is very good on the slippery stuff.
Any car is as good as the driver. Having owned both d2 and fl2 they're both very capable but d2 will go places that fl2 won't.
And on green ice I've been stuck in a d2 along with a defender whilst a suzuki jimny flew on up the hill leaving us at the bottom.
Tyres will make a massive difference too.
And on green ice I've been stuck in a d2 along with a defender whilst a suzuki jimny flew on up the hill leaving us at the bottom.
Tyres will make a massive difference too.
Jayridium
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As someone who has woned RRC, D1, D2 & FL1, I can comment on how surprisingly capable the FL1 is - assuming you put decent tyres on it.
The biggest "problem" the hippo has off-road is lack of ground clearance, however, with 29" tyres such as 235/70/16 or 225/70/16 or 205/80/16 sizes, and a 2" lift kit, the hippo has the same ground clearance as a stock defender. The next biggest handicap they have is the lack of low range, so a hippo driver will have to slip his clutch to crawl, but the autobox sidesteps this issue. Some argue that the hippo's architecture preventing it having a Centre Diff Lock is an issue, but many D2's cope without CDL and that's never been a handicap for RRC's or P38's, which have a Borg Warner transfer Box, which like the Then the hippo has a viscous coupling in the middle, which acts (vaguely) like a LSD centre diff.
One advantage, brake modulating traction control that locks up a spinning wheel to transfer torque across to the other wheels which presumably have grip, and this is what makes them so unstoppable on wet grass or shallow enough snow, assuming their limited ground clearance doesn't get them into trouble.
The hippo, with its traction control and (effectively) LSD centre diff, is a point-and-shoot 4wd system, I press the pedal and let the computer and viscous do their magic to make progress, while driving a more conventional 4wd system, whereas "real" 4wd systems such as the D1 & defender need a bit more thought to extract the best from them.
The biggest "problem" the hippo has off-road is lack of ground clearance, however, with 29" tyres such as 235/70/16 or 225/70/16 or 205/80/16 sizes, and a 2" lift kit, the hippo has the same ground clearance as a stock defender. The next biggest handicap they have is the lack of low range, so a hippo driver will have to slip his clutch to crawl, but the autobox sidesteps this issue. Some argue that the hippo's architecture preventing it having a Centre Diff Lock is an issue, but many D2's cope without CDL and that's never been a handicap for RRC's or P38's, which have a Borg Warner transfer Box, which like the Then the hippo has a viscous coupling in the middle, which acts (vaguely) like a LSD centre diff.
One advantage, brake modulating traction control that locks up a spinning wheel to transfer torque across to the other wheels which presumably have grip, and this is what makes them so unstoppable on wet grass or shallow enough snow, assuming their limited ground clearance doesn't get them into trouble.
The hippo, with its traction control and (effectively) LSD centre diff, is a point-and-shoot 4wd system, I press the pedal and let the computer and viscous do their magic to make progress, while driving a more conventional 4wd system, whereas "real" 4wd systems such as the D1 & defender need a bit more thought to extract the best from them.
Excellent explanation.
I followed most of it, but started getting confused at the CDLs and Borg Warner… then got to ‘just point and shoot’ and I was right back in the zone!
The ground clearance really is the only thing I watch for when green laning - but once I’ve picked (what I think is) the best line, ol’ Freddie will pick his way through. You are right about the auto box - makes life much easier. As does the HDC.
doriz
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Video evidence or it never happened
300bhp/ton
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I drove some Freelander 2's around in Morocco - didn't feel like 'work' and they performed better than the support vehicles...
Lack of ground clearance just means you have to get inventive with the route you take sometimes, although the LRE manual 'box ones suffered terribly due to the lack of low ratio.
Lack of ground clearance just means you have to get inventive with the route you take sometimes, although the LRE manual 'box ones suffered terribly due to the lack of low ratio.
Yep - looked much more fun than the green lanes I get to!PS I have just had a chance to watch this video through: what amazing landscape and a brilliant trail that is! Wel jel!
Oh, and doesn't the FL1 look so good?
300bhp/ton
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In the UK a so called green lane is not a trail. It is an official road i.e. part of the Kings Highway, it just happens to be unpaved. In reality none should really be all that challenging to drive. And if they are challenging, then you are either off piste where you shouldn't be or the lane isn't really in a condition to be driven.
If you want more serious off road driving in the UK, you will need to either have a go at an RTV style trial (lots of fun) or Pay & Play sites. Green lanes really are more about the adventure and exploring than demanding off road driving.
Yes, I agree a green lane is not a ‘trail’… I was not suggesting it was. It’s actually a BOAT or UCR.
The term ‘off road’ is subjective.
Whilst many green lanes are not technically challenging at all, some can still be found that are - (without going off-piste, which is a no-no in my book, otherwise we’ll all eventually lose the rights). Most that suffer from weather related issues are generally subject to part-time TROs anyway.
They don’t need to be full of mud and rutted to be challenging. A good rock crawl, river-fording (in right conditions), or challenging climb through woods would all be off-road in my book, and fun. And on green lanes.
300bhp/ton
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I can't claim to have done all the lanes. But I've done a fair few in Wales over the years, Salisbury Plain, some in Somerset and local ones to me in the Home Counties. They are 'off road driving techniques' while technically being on a road. I've enjoyed driving them, but none have yet been particularly challenging in an off road sense. Certainly 90-98% of them should be fine in a 100% standard 4x4, so long as you ATs or better fitted.Yes, I agree a green lane is not a ‘trail’… I was not suggesting it was. It’s actually a BOAT or UCR.
The term ‘off road’ is subjective.
Whilst many green lanes are not technically challenging at all, some can still be found that are - (without going off-piste, which is a no-no in my book, otherwise we’ll all eventually lose the rights). Most that suffer from weather related issues are generally subject to part-time TROs anyway.
They don’t need to be full of mud and rutted to be challenging. A good rock crawl, river-fording (in right conditions), or challenging climb through woods would all be off-road in my book, and fun. And on green lanes.
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