I'm looking at buying a Freelander as a tow car. I towed with a manual saloon car some years ago. With is the better to have to tow with. I've spoken to 2 dealers who basically sat on the fence. Could I have your comments / advice please.

Auto for towing that is all!

Auto - no shadow of doubt... Any dealer sitting on the fence clearly has a manual that he wants to try and sell you.

Manuals tend to come with week clutches and dmf's which if you intend on towing they are even more likely to self destruct.

There off course a certain view of this forum that you should not be towing at all  Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

Well I must be the odd one out then as I tow a 21 foot boat on a 25 foot trailer with no problems at all. guess it boils down to what you want,what you intend to tow and how often

Dextersdad wrote:

I'm looking at buying a Freelander as a tow car. I towed with a manual saloon car some years ago. With is the better to have to tow with. I've spoken to 2 dealers who basically sat on the fence. Could I have your comments / advice please.

I tow a 29ft TA caravan 1800kg effortless with Auto. Makes light work of it and manoeuvring a dream.

29ft!! You need a class 1 and permit for something that big. Do you like dags?!?

They both have advantages and disadvantages. I can see the benefits of an auto, but after near on 5 years of towing with my manual I have no issues. Same DMF at 51000 miles as well.

But I would go auto next time as I prefer the drive of the auto. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

didnt you wear out your clutch though mav? At work
At home

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i tow a folding camper 850kg in weight with a manual if you are a good driver the clutch should be fine anyhow i would rather pay £800 quid for a replacement clutch than 3k for a new auto box there have been a few auto box failures on the forum lately on 2007/08 models at the end of the day its down to personal choice good luck what ever you choose  rainy-city
xs

It's the reversing with a manual that can cook the clutch, like many vehicles with a six speed box, reverse gear is made small, hence higher geared, if your reversing something on an incline where precision is needed you need to be very careful.
One manufacturer in the 3.5 ton van sector had to recall all the vehicles to replace the reverse gear as they were to higher geared and drivers were knocking clutches out.

Auto for the Freelander, I tow a race box and car without problem , however I also tow the same trailer with a manual van and it is just more tiring

There is no doubt as far as I am concerned the auto makes for easier towing particularly at the higher end in terms of weight. For medical reason my wife has to have an auto anyway so it makes the decision for me

Then again the choice is also influenced by how much towing you do. Some caravan users take the van to a site for the spring and leave it on site till the autumn. If you like the degree of control a manual gives would you give it up for the sake of two journeys a year.

To me the Freelander 2 is a superb tow car and the addition of the auto box makes it quite a bit better. Having just had to do a 150 mile round trip using a manual box with nothing on the back I now appreciate it even more as an auto. Prog rock is cool!
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Ive just towed my 24ft Coachman with my 2.2 manual. Didnt even know it was on the back!!
And as for all those who burn clutches with reversing - get a bloody motor mover!!

Auto definitely. A proper torque converter removes all worries about clutch or DMF problems. I follow the handbook advice to use sports mode when towing - effortless and smooth!