I have a 2011 FL2 Manual and was wondering realistically what the maximum towing weight might be. Not the 2t listed in the book, but a genuine what the clutch can handle.

I'm not planning on driving any faster than 20mph and distance will be short but am looking to tow my 23 foot boat but my concerns are both pulling it up on the slip and also when i back down (given that boat weighs more than the car) but mostly at this stage how much an FL2 can realistically pull slowly.

Thanks

Max towing weight for a Freelander is 2000kg.
That is what LR have rated the vehicle for, that's what the brakes are designed to cope with and that's what is the legal maximum that you can tow, in the UK at least.
Tow more than 2000kg and the warranty will be invalidated.

I pull a 21 ft boat up and down slipways no probs have a look at her in my gallery

85% recommended for safety and no more than 100% if very experienced

http://www.towcar.info/advise.php

I tried towing a caravan with my fl1 that was well within handbook and car shook at speed and would not climb a hill to a farm on route  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

Thanks guys. Well boat dry weight is 1700kgs add engine etc and I'm at 2000kgs. Double axle 670 trailer is another 600kgs min I reckon so that puts me way over spec. Even though short distance 1 mile I guess I'd better get towed by someone else.

According to the towing guide site above even a disco would only just be in spec at 100%

Defenders recomended towing weight is 3500kg and I easily towed my dads truck up a hill which was getting on for 14 tons. Manage to stop it to on the rigid bar. Oh but that has low range!

The 2000kg is the SWL, I am sure it would be fine for that 1 mile

npm910 wrote:

Thanks guys. Well boat dry weight is 1700kgs add engine etc and I'm at 2000kgs. Double axle 670 trailer is another 600kgs min I reckon so that puts me way over spec. Even though short distance 1 mile I guess I'd better get towed by someone else.

According to the towing guide site above even a disco would only just be in spec at 100%

Hello all

The 2000Kg max towing weight stated by LR assumes that the car is fully laden (up to max GVW). Legally you can tow more than 2000 Kg as long as you do not exceed the maximum train weight (as stated on the car "plate").

Look at the "Weights" section in the "Technical specifications" of the handbook. Here is the Topix link:

http://topix.landrover.jlrext.com/topix/co...;id=125375

However the combination would not necessarilly be stable while towing (at speed). It would also murder your clutch whilst recovering up a ramp.

D3/4 no problem. Low ratio, first gear, you don't even have to use any accelerator.

You can get around the clutch problem by fitting an electric winch to the car and winching the boat up the ramp onto level ground, or get an automatic!

Surely the question was what can the FL2 phsically tow - not what can it legally tow on the road.
I personally have dragged a disabled 110 out of marshland, got to be well over the two tons when the suction of the mud comes into play. I seem to remember another member dragging a disabled 90/110 out of the mud.
A couple of winters ago we were all dragging various vans and cars out of ditches.

Because of my ham fisted approach to clutch control I drive an auto - so cannot give any advise on the manuals capability, but some one here must have.

And of course would never recommend towing more that the manufacturers plated weight on public roads. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

I think you are right Andy131.
The 85% rule is aimed at on road towing use, not slow speed hauling of boats etc.
The limiting factor for slipway use dragging +/- 2600Kg of boat & trailer, (plus weight of water inside of the trailer box section chassis 'till it all drains out) will surely be the reliability of the clutch given the lack of a low range box.
Once on the flat and rolling I guess it won't be a problem but I am sure I have read other posts saying that the clutch is the Achilles Heel on FL2.
Think most of the towbars are only rated at 2000Kg as well, so this needs some consideration although I would be less worried about this than lunching the clutch!

Bare in mind that the 2000kg's, as said is for road use. So it takes ito account someone who quite probably doesn't have a clue, towing a trailer up a busy slip road onto a motorway, or whilst comin to a stop down a steep hill from 60mph. So the manual plays it safe, if you tow 2100kg's whilst using your nogging and taking your time you aren't going to start breaking things. You'l be fine towing (or shunting is what you're doing) the weight you're talking about (I'm sure towing a Ford Range with a trailer itself up a sliperry track is way over the limit but our auto coped fine!) Just bare in mind that people talk about the clutch's being weak on manuals, so take your time!  Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Couple of days ago I watched a RR Vogue pull a 40foot artic off a muddy field onto a road. Only the artic tractor unit was stuck in the mud but the RR pulled it out with relative ease. RR Vogue is rated to pull 3500 kg and I'm pretty sure the artic with 40 foot trailer full of gravel weighed a bit more than that!!!