Hawkmoon · Nov 5, 2011

Hi all,

Sorry no I'm not offering a list of items you could consider to add to a Freebie to go play in the mud.

I'm asking if anyone has any suggesrions for stuff to install to allow a Freebie to go off road and well lets be honest give it a chance to redeem itself to other 'mud slugs!'

Things like :

Lift kits.

Rock/tree sliders (if there are some)

Bull bars

Wheel spacers

Wader kit

Snorkel
etc
etc

Litch · Nov 5, 2011

Have you actually tried it to see just how far it will go, it might just surprise you?

Fit some decent tyres, make sure your recovery points are up to scratch and go an play. Worry about what you might need when you have actually tried it!

Where are you based, your signature is a bit vague?

Singvogel · Nov 5, 2011

I agree with Litch - try it as it is, and then buy what is really necessary.

I get a kick out of amazing the people who think I'm going to get stuck.

I help with mine-clearing in Bosnia Hercegovina and in Kosovo during my holidays, and have been up mountains and across fields that most British farmers would not go with their tractor.

I have found it necessary to fit - nothing!

I have 235/55 R17 Continental CrossContact tyres and that's it!

The only thing that would stop me is grounding in deep ruts - but so far I've been able to steer to the right or left of them and go where I need to go.

Of course if your aiming to compete in some mud-plugging trials then you are in another world - not the real world.

Then you will need a lift kit - a sump guard - skids - and everything else you listed - including a snorkel - If I am faced with deep water I have just simply disconnected the air intake hose and pointed it upwards rather than have it connected to the RH wing plastic intake.

At one time I owned a Mercedes Unimog try going off-road with that -that'll show em. Very cheap! German ex-army surplus.

'Horses for courses' my man.

The Mad Hat Man · Nov 5, 2011

the only thing on your list is, possibly the snorkle.
the biggest problem with Hippoos is the lack of ground clearance, so you might like to consider some under-body protection, and change the rear silencer.
Lifting is a particular problem, because it will change Camber angles - and not for the better.

willh · Nov 6, 2011

I've had mine out at serious pay and play courses up against modified 90's and it'll hold it's own no problem in most situations!

Depends what you want to do, but if you want to follow Defenders in deep mud and/or water you'll need to increase clearance. A 2" body lift and bigger profile AT or MT tyres aren't expensive and will ensure you don't batter the underside too much or beach yourself in the ruts. 205/80/16's fit without spacers on standard FL1 alloys without a lift. Remove the backbox because it will get clobbered, and fit underbody protection/sliders if you're really concerned about rocky impacts under there!

Without a snorkel obviously you can't wade any deeper than the air intake in the engine bay so learn where this sits, or modify the intake with sealed ducting somewhere slightly higher. Snorkels are available but quite expensive unless you can bosh one together out of other bits!

As the others have said however, if it's just "off road" you want to try then give it a blast with a mate or 2 first before spunking any money modifying it! You can pull each other out when you get stuck and will let you know where the weak points are for the conditions you'll be driving in. Just go slow and walk it first to check what you'll be driving over/through!

Phil Dinsdale · Nov 6, 2011

Hi Will,

You mentioned remving the silencer as it will get banged up as i have experienced on many a time. My onlt question and it may seem daft but what do you replace the silencer with??

Regards

Phil

The Mad Hat Man · Nov 6, 2011

Cherry bomb.

johnlad · Nov 6, 2011

big fcuk off tow rope so we can rescue you

pete23 · Nov 6, 2011

Hawkmoon said:
Hi all,

Sorry no I'm not offering a list of items you could consider to add to a Freebie to go play in the mud.

I'm asking if anyone has any suggesrions for stuff to install to allow a Freebie to go off road and well lets be honest give it a chance to redeem itself to other 'mud slugs!'

Things like :

shame you cant get a pocket size 90, that will get you out the **** for sure

willh · Nov 7, 2011

Just remove the silencer, no need to have anything else there! It's hardly a large noisy engine, and if the cat is still in place it doesn't really sound any different. Try it for yourself! Just loosen the clamp that joins the rear box to the centre section, separate the pipes and run the engine. I guess it makes it sound a bit "blown" if you get really close, but certainly not anything that would annoy you during driving.

I've now added a small section of bent pipe just to route the fumes out behind the N/S rear wheel to tidy it up a bit.

Phil Dinsdale · Nov 8, 2011

Thanks for that Will

willh said:
Just remove the silencer, no need to have anything else there! It's hardly a large noisy engine, and if the cat is still in place it doesn't really sound any different. Try it for yourself! Just loosen the clamp that joins the rear box to the centre section, separate the pipes and run the engine. I guess it makes it sound a bit "blown" if you get really close, but certainly not anything that would annoy you during driving.

I've now added a small section of bent pipe just to route the fumes out behind the N/S rear wheel to tidy it up a bit.

Hawkmoon · Nov 8, 2011

hehehe
I was thinking spacers mainly, to increase stablity, both off road and on it!

Lift kits, seem to be more work then the result rewards you for a Freebie.

Snorkel, well I wasn't thinking of crossing any rivers to be honest.

For that sort of playing I'd get a 90.

Maybe a Disco!

Hawkmoon · Nov 8, 2011

Litch said:
...Where are you based, your signature is a bit vague?

Aston Martin closing historic factory

A lovely building to drive past when I go home. Acts as sales office now!
(I can dream can't I

)

On the other side of the road the road there is this:
Panoramio - Photo of History: Aston Martin Lagonda at Newport Pagnell

.....soon to be a museum (Tesco brought the land for a new superstore)

Enjoy ( I do)...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcW0czLH-dQ"]Aston Martin V12 Vantage Day - 22 V12Vs at Works Service, Newport Pagnell - YouTube[/ame]

Litch · Nov 8, 2011

Hawkmoon said:
Aston Martin closing historic factory

A lovely building to drive past when I go home. Acts as sales office now!
(I can dream can't I )
On the other side of the road the road there is this:
Panoramio - Photo of History: Aston Martin Lagonda at Newport Pagnell
.....soon to be a museum (Tesco brought the land for a new superstore)
Enjoy ( I do)...
Aston Martin V12 Vantage Day - 22 V12Vs at Works Service, Newport Pagnell - YouTube

Yep, read that (I am in Cranfield).
I just assumed that as you say you are from "the original home of Aston Martin" you meant Kensington? David Brown the (then) current owner of Aston Martin didn't buy the Tickford Street site until the 1950's by which time they had been through several owners and reinventions of the brand (a bit like more recent times really!).

Anyway, pedantic or what!

D3savage · Nov 9, 2011

Hi .... if you have a TD4 like me change the rear exhaust back box. I had a new ss steel system on mine - and the clearence is great. Use good tyres - buy a cheap set of steels and whack 4 remold knoblies on .... use something like Kingpin... they are cheap and grippy - but noisey!- don't use them on road regularly your fillings will drop out!! Don't take Hippo into deep water you are asking for serious trouble. It aint a defender and never will be - but it is still pretty capable - the person behind the wheel makes a big difference!!!!! Good luck

Hawkmoon · Nov 11, 2011

lol, ah yes the old 'nut behined the wheel' problem!!

With my Freebee being no longer trusted by the wife, it's days are numbered!

So I see my choices as, replace it, I'm up for that, or put in the garage do some modification as required and have some fun with it.
Kind'a double edge sword really, see if I'm to replace it I want to replace it with a 90 or another 110.....kinda crazy to have a Freebee for playing in the mud when (at that time) I would have a better car for the job!
Better clearance
better foor print
more power
less plastic to crack...(gotta love the wings on these)
more extras/kit

and as I'm discovering less extras to add if needed, when needed.

Sure there is the G$, I mean G4 stuff, but that lots of cash and work when all is considered it seems more than OTT to me.

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