Philgt50
Well-Known Member
I reckon you will have fun I sure have. I know that you can get lift kits etc but my FL spends far more time on the road driven by my beloved (she reads this sometimes) than off road abused by me. So I figure until such times I can have my own off road vehicle ( or tank) I will try to reach a happy compromise with what it's capable of. Which is pretty impressive for what the Hippo is. That got a bit lengthy I forgot what I even started writing sorry
Alibro
Well-Known Member
I count it a matter of pride getting the car as good as it can be for the least money possible. One of my Freelanders was bought, sorted and MOT'd for under £600 and that included replacing brakes, fixing the VCU, fixing three windows, replacing VCU support bearings and giving it a full service.Lol!
Frankly, it's the cheapest Land Rover money can buy, and it's more capable off road than I can drive it - so happy days says I!
Philgt50
Well-Known Member
Yeah I am with you there Alibro it has been the only car I have been truly interested in working on and improving having always been more into bikes. And a great learning curve with a lot of help here. And likewise Rob; it's got more off road ability than I have right now which I discovered quickly taking some wrong turns I would never have believed that any Landy could get out of let alone my poor Hippo! And the suns out tomorrow and the rag top is coming down for a drive round the New Forest! Happy days
Alibro
Well-Known Member
In my (admittedly limited) experience Freelanders are great in sticky situations so long as all four wheels are on the ground, with one wheel in the air they are still good but with one front and one rear in the air they don't go so well. I guess that isn't surprising as they don't have LSD's but rely on the traction control.
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
I have found the booting the throttle, with some restraint, helps in cross axle situations. However it's actually better use a bit on momentum, over tricky situations. A locking rear diff would make the world of difference.
Philgt50
Well-Known Member
I nearly learnt the really hard way that driving off road is yet another skill I wasn't born with and surprisingly enough one has to learn how not to trash the car or get stuck or lose the exhaust whilst exploring the countryside haha. I really wish I would get some common sense before I am retired haha
Alibro
Well-Known Member
LOL, Sorry mate, not too much of that hereabouts. You blend right in.
Alibro
Well-Known Member
If yours is a facelift F1 they hid two bolts above the lower part of the front bumper. I'm not sure what the correct method of getting to them is but I just pulled the plastic out of the way and jam a 15mm socket on an extension on them, then swear and curse them out.
To say it's poor design is an insult to poor design.
I'll go for brute force and less ignorance then! Thanks Alibro.
Alibro
Well-Known Member
I think the ignorance is compulsory.
Alibro.
They're not. I've crawled under every inch. I've found the rear bolts but the front of the tray goes up under the front bumper with no indication of where they might be. There are no empty holes. Nothing!
Alibro
Well-Known Member
The front four (or is it five) screws go along the width of the bumper about 6 inches apart, they are only to hold the bottom of the bumper to the frame so are more or less cosmetic and are very fine, only 4 or 5mm. To find the front bolts just follow the side rails to the front until they disappear behind the lower part of the bumper, then pull down the bumper lower lip and you should see them. I ended up drilling two 20mm holes in the underside of the bumper for better access. The can't be seen unless you're looking for them.
I'm invigilating first thing tomorrow. I'm going to 'borrow' some young kid who's doing any subject to do with engineering. If he can't resolve it.. He's failed!
