Hello all,

I had my 08 Freelander TD4 out near Lake Eyre/Oodnadatta in the Oz outback a few months back. Extremely desolate and isolated with very rough tracks but the car handled it very well, couldn't be happier with its performance. While there, I visited a memorial to an Austrian tourist who had perished in 1998. I just found a Ray Mears episode on You Tube that discussed the incident and thought you UK/European guys might find it interesting if you haven't seen it? (I hope the links work?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGUba9xnaDo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fTY4cc0ewU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFUPifP8yIY

They aren't in Freelanders but there is a Disco in there

Cheers,
Mike

mikehzz
Great bit of film and plenty of advice. It looks as if you would have had a great time out there.
Have you any idea what sort of pressure you should let your tyres down to when stuck in sand/mud.

waaxh03

Hello,
Pressure entirely depends on the sand conditions. We routinely lower tyres to 16-18 psi for a day on the dunes. If the weather is hot and dry and the wind has been blowing then we have been as low as 12 psi. Care must be taken not to turn too sharply when down that low as you can roll the tyre off the rim. If you get into a positively sticky situation then drop to 8 psi but only till you are clear. Keep your speed way down on low pressure.
Its important to choose wisely where you stop in the sand. Always stop on a slope (even a really mild one) with the front of the car pointing downwards.
Mud? Whats that again? I think some guys up north may be able to answer that question better than I can. I four wheel drive a lot and I haven't used the grass/snow setting yet

Check out these crazy guys in North Queensland. Plenty of mud in the tropics up there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk6KJXeOM0k ....sorry no Freelanders but I'm going there next winter in mine for sure!

Cheers,
Mike

mikehzz. Thanks for the info on tyre pressures. The trip in North Queensland looks exciting and I hope you enjoy it when you go up there next winter. It looks a good test for the car and also the caravan. I am not sure the crockery will survive though.

waaxh03

No caravan for me. I'm likely to wreck the car on its own

G'day Mike,

I'm sure if you posted up your experiences on the different tyres you've run in those conditions, that would be helpful too.

I'm leaning towards the Pirelli AT (not ATR), fot the FL2's next set, had them before on the Defender, generally happy.

Regards
Max P
(Tusker)

p.s. hope the scratches polished out... Regards
Max P

I think this is the only type of caravaning I would like to do ( bets being stuck behind one on the M6 on the way to the lakes)
Check out these crazy guys in North Queensland. (men's caravaning)
spot on from down under.

Hi Max,

Yep, the scratches polished out pretty good. I should have got Caine to video the FL2 climbing those rocks...I only saw it from the inside. My wife is thinking of banning me from taking it into the bush any more, I'm getting too daring with it....
Of interest, I found this review they filmed up near where we were the other day. The car looks like mine but with the optional mud simulation pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq0L1ef_8Bg

The reviewer says $45K new? Good luck finding one at that price.
He looks like he is running 18" rims. What pressure do you think in those conditions?

jp, I reckon the Cruiser pulling that van would probably end up like the car in the Blues Brothers They would reach the Cape and it would completely disintegrate into pieces.

Cheers,
Mike

Yeh he's running 19's.... you can tell he has the premium pack.

When i run on ruts like that, i go down to 18psi.... but offroading in 19's is a pain because of the low profile.

Dorko

You said it. Not much room for the sidewall to bag out for traction. Also, hit a rock too hard and the rims will have chunks out of them. They look good though.

Yeh i love the look of them, but im too lazy no a days to put them back on....

Dorko