Freelander - is it a good tow vehicle?

Had two SD4's, excellent tow car although you have not said how heavy your van is.

There are good and bad points with all vehicles including the Freelander 2, but I personally have yet to experience anything bad 

I'm on my third new one, with the last a 2011 SD4 and my present one a facelifted 2013 SD4. Excellent torque of 420Nm and 187hp, with a good auto gearbox although at 60mph it does prefer 5th gear but so what, it is probably more economical there. No faults at all with all three since 2009 other than the auto box needing a software update, but others have suffered rear dif whine and earlier ones with Haldex problems. Basically its as reliable as any other and has excellent power delivery with a 150kg noseweight allowance.

Hi,

I have a 2013 TD4 Freelander manual gearbox and tow a 1500kg caravan.  We do about 5000 miles a year towing here and on the Continent.  We get about 26/27 mpg towing and 36/37 general running about, although can manage 40/42 solo on long runs on motorway.

Car goes very well and has never given any problems towing.  I like to achieve a 95 - 100 kg nose weight which appears to suit the car and caravan well.  No problems from overtaking vehicles or side winds as car seems able to control the caravan.  Car will cruise at 60 mph in 6th gear but do need to drop down for motorway inclines and other hills as you would expect.

Hope this helps, happy to answer any questions you may have.

Dave

Thanks everyone sounds like this is the tow vehicle for me.

Can also recommend the SD4. we tow a Swift Challenger 584, 1500kg, don't know it's behind you, but you may feel you have to use Sport mode to over-ride the gearbox. It tends to hold lower gears longer than when solo. I think the computer brain senses trailer attached. Had it for three years, and found I got 26 mpg overall, solo or towing.

Have now gone up to a Disco 4, but would highly recommend the Freelander 2 as a tug, typical Land Rover, Does what it says on the tin.

Don't like the Discovery Sport (replacement for the Freelander) shape, too much like the Evoque, as is the New Discovery. I personally prefer the Land Rover "Big Square Box" style.

I had a 57 plate from nearly new for 3 years and it was an excellent tow car pulling 1550 kgs. Mine was a manual and pulled in top gear effortlessly with just the occasional need to drop a gear on inclines. The tow hitch weight is a massive 150 kgs so I could set the caravan hitch weight at the Alko max of 100 kgs and carry two bikes on a tow bolt mounted cycle rack. As others mention I averaged 37 mpg solo and 26/27 mpg towing. It was totally steady and the engine temperature never moved from normal even on long climbs. Great too on CL sites with sloping wet grass pitches. The only reason I parted with it was the boot was too small for everything we needed to carry so check out if it is ok for you. I think where LR and RRs score so well over other vehicles is that they are designed to tow heavy loads without additional tow packs such as many Merc, BMW, etc SUVs. I have just bought a new Discovery Sport and emailed LR to enquire how many miles I needed to travel first before towing. The reply you can tow immediately from brand new.

I appreciate BPs view of the new style shape but it is more aerodynamic  and I have found new styles tend to grow on you and an older one you liked eventually looks dated. It just takes time!

HI again folks, bought my freelander 2, seems a lovely solid vehicle to drive just waiting for the log book so I can get plates made up for the caravan. I'm new to driving automatics and apart from putting the stick into 'P' when I'm parked should I also engage the electronic parking brake ? Thanks

Yes you should always apply the parking brake as per the handbook and of course it is a legal requirement when parked.

Excellent, hope you have as much enjoyment as I have with mine. As for the gearbox 'P' it is only a small 'dog claw' tooth in the gearbox so never rely on it alone when out and about, unless like me when on my totally flat gravel drive I let the car settle before moving into 'park' and then not bother with the electronic handbrake.

When parking on an incline, hold with footbrake, apply electronic handbrake, take foot off brake pedal and car will settle a few inches forwards or backwards, then move lever into 'P'. This will make it easier to move lever out of 'P' again.

Do as Dave says & generally just engage P when parking ....... like 99% of (proper ) auto drivers do. Re Vulcan's 'legal' comments ...... plod would be busy if they arrested all auto driver that didn't apply their parking brake