So I finally took my freelander 2 for some serious-ish offroading and going up hill in some mud and very rough terrain I had to use my clutch quite a lot to keep the power up but control the speed.

Maybe this was a mistake - a result of my inexperience, since it is my first time for my driving in this kind of terrain, which although was very good fun and overall very impressed with the 4x4 system on my little freelander, I am afraid it will result in some serious damage to my wallet.

After the trip there was a lot of clutch smell and a little smoke coming from the gearbox area. The smell itself took a couple of days to go away completely.

The problem is that there is some noticeable vibration when pulling off (especially when going uphill) and also when changing from first to second. There is no slip that I can notice in higher gears. Is this my clutch / dmf needing replacement?

Thanks!!

Clutch overheats and either distorts slightly or surface gets glazed? If it doesn't improve then you either have to replace or live with it. Having seen the Ford Motor Company FoMoCo clutch that came out of one of ours it didn't look like a particularly heavy duty unit. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

I might be wrong (mines an auto), but I thought the later manuals had anti-stall, so you plod along with the clutch fully engaged, and if the engine is near to stall it automatically gives more fuel to bring the revs back up.
Even if it does stall, pushing the clutch in causes the engine to restart.

It was a while ago but I was out with a couple of guys from this forum (Doc?) and was impressed with how the newer manual coped with a very steep rock crawl.

It does sound as if the friction plate or the flywheel has become distorted due to overheating. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

I read somewhere that if you stall an FL2 it will restart when you push the clutch in but only once. It seems to be the case on my 2011 Facelift anyway. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

I read somewhere that if you stall an FL2 it will restart when you push the clutch in but only once

Our MY13 seems to be intermittent at doing this that is worse than not doing it at all.

Yep, go off reading in an Auto. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Mine definitely restarts if I stall it. Have to put terrain response into an off road setting or be in eco mode to do it.

thanks for all the comments!

Clutch is now much better. I think I got away with it, this time.