Hi everyone..
I'm Pete

I have previously had a mk2 pajero, mk3 shogun, bought back my mk2 pajero.
Currently running about in a mk4 3.2 shogun.. but it does drink fuel.
Reason i have a car like this is i use it to tow my race car about.
I used to run a Mazda RX8 which is a heavy ol beast which is why i had a shogun.. I have since moved to a mk3 mr2 racecar. meaning my car and trailer weigh in a much more healthy 1540kg. which will go down as i get some free power from the mr2 (more weight reduction) but i am also looking at adding a tyre rack to it.

So i have the shogun for sale at the moment and been looking at various tow cars. I used to have a separate daily (40 mile round trip each day) but the shogun sat there wasted. so i decided my tow car should be my daily and save on tax etc.

I'm looking at spending what ever i can get for my shogun so somewhere between 4000-5000£

My current list is.. Mazda CX7, Outlander, Tiguan, X3,. And the wife asked for the freelander 2 to be added to the list.
now i like to make sure i keep a good to car weight so the CX7 was winning the race. But the more i look at teh FL2 the more i like
Especially with the 150kg ball weight will help if i add a tyre rack

i knowit is a silly question asking on a freelander forum but am i mad to look at one.
i have had many happy fault free (almost) years with the shoguns, but it does like a drink.

I really enjoy the 4x4ness of the shogun so i like the idea of the freelander. also a HSE with all the toys!

There quite a few high miles ones.. is this an issue

from investigations i should look at rear diff being done, cam belt done and make sure its a TD4 Auto for towing

Any help advice etc would be appreciated. its better looking for m than a people SUV bubble thing.. I am honestly struggling to find any horror stories

sorry for rambling but any advice would be great..

what should i expect MPG wise? hoping around 36+ daily 25+ towing?
anyone want a shogun

Click image to enlarge

The Fl2 is an excellent tow car, if fitted with a LR tow bar the noseweight is 250kg at 60 mph, providing the axle gross weight is not exceded, if possible go for an SD4 auto, depending on your commute you can get in the high 30's even with an auto and 26mpg towing, SD4 are late 2009 onwards. The differences between the Shogun and the Fl2 are mainly comfort, reasonable mpg and 4x4 is on demand but on take off it is 50/50 dropping to 95/5 bias to the front until demand requires a different bias.
The software on the stability control is excellent and trailer stability actuates on any sense the trailer is causing a non normal stability individually braking any wheel, and automatically cancelling cruise control. You can slam the brakes on in the middle of a corner and it just copes as though you are on the straight.
For me it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned, the only defect being a split turbo hose elbow in 6 years of ownership, not all have rear axle problems. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

Hi,
We bought ours considering service history and proof of work done, the FL2 is probably the most reliable land rover

I would not rule out a manual or the TD4 see what comes along the suits you?

Spec wise a seemingly lower spec car can have nice options, you have to decide what you want?
Our GS has full leather, arm rests, front and rear heated screens all what we wanted but no Satnav did not want it anyway

Enjoy the hunting and try a couple we like the ride on 17" wheels
 .
my first ever FL2 and I did keep it longer than most other cars!
But its now gone way up Norf

As above an SD4 would be the best option , I wouldn't worry too much about high miles if properly serviced . We've got two , an SD4 and a manual TD4 , the TD4 has done 151k and runs like a dream . My SD4 was a replacement for a written off TD4 and I love it , the autobox really suits the FL2 very well and there's not much in it economy wise tbh . We will be looking at replacing the TD4 soon as my wife now needs an auto with electric handbrake so we are looking for one of the last FL2's and running it for many years to come . Good luck with your search , there's plenty on Autotrader at the minute .

Mark 2009 FL2 TD4 SE (Sadly gone)
2007 FL2 TD4 GS (The wifes , gone after 8 great years)
2012 FL2 SD4 SPORT LE(Gone and missing it)
2015 DISCOVERY SPORT 2.2SD4 HSE (Now gone)
2014 Ford Bmax 1.0 ecoboost ( Gone but what next )
2014 Ford Focus 2.0tdci Zetec S (Gone,but what a car)
2020 Ford Fiesta ActiveX 1.0 Ecoboost
2024 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 Tsi SEL

The Freelander’s a great car, but while my own (automatic) Freelander was certainly a good at towing, I wouldn’t expect too much in the way of mpg.

I drove 125,000 miles in manuals and 35,000 miles in the auto. Even using the onboard computer, which is usually a bit optimistic, average (non towing) work returned about 31-32mpg and it’s easy to drop into the very high 20’s. But it’s hilly here. Drive in Kent and don’t get caught in traffic and hope for 33, maybe 34, with 35-36 on a long gentle run.

thanks everyone
I would like heated seats, cruise, parking sensors, and the heated front screen big bonus for me working shift work at 5am!
I am not sure my budget will stretch to a SD4. Seen a load of freelanders around 140K miles that look decent
The shoguns on 150

Most of my towing is on motorways to race tracks. to and from work is motorway
I have seen plenty saying avoid manuals which suits em as wife is registered disabled and a Auto for her on a bad day would suit and i can take her little KIA

MPg wise the Shogun daily does around 22-23, i can get it to 26 if i and really gentle.. round town.. 17
towing 20..

I want to get better than that..

I think any decent FL2 you buy would beat your Shogun on mpg. Shame you can't stretch to an sd4 auto as for me that's the one to have, as others have said, but then the td4 is a perfectly good engine and mated with the auto gearbox is still great for towing. Having said that, plenty of people on here also tow caravans and trailers with a manual td4.

If you're looking at an HSE with lots of extras then it's worth opting for reverse cam as it has a hitching feature designed to help alignment when backing up to a trailer.

33 regular mpg solo on my Sd4, towing twin axle caravan with 4 bikes on car roof rails to south of France and back over 2100 miles averaged 20.5 mpg, having said that we don't travel light and did come back with around 300 bottles of wine I'd say we were definitely towing over the 2 ton maximum weight  Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Thanks for the replies guys and gals

Yeah I've looked ill only be able to afford a td4
These still be OK.. Or is it going to be a juicy little thing

300 bottles at 700grams for the glass only, that's 435kg if they are full. Plus cardboard boxes, let's say 400grams X 25. 445kg all up

That only leaves 55kg of your 500kg payload for a passenger!

Down under they are randomly weighting people towing caravans, if you were in an accident & you were found to be overweight your insurance probably won't cough up. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

Bob is towing so his gross weight also can be exceeded by100KG, axle weights allowing. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

100kg - capacity for 5.5 cases of wine!  Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

what is the max train weight for freelander 2 and trailer?

ill be towing 1540kg.. what does the freelander 2 actually weight?

Has a 2 ton towing limit, don't recall actual kerbweight, 1850kg ? Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Mass in service (the new Kerbweight) is upto 1995kg depending on model. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.