Hi, I've been asked to retrieve my son's broken down 22 foot motor boat. Task is to back down a slipway with his trailer, hitch up the boat and haul it out.

As we all know the Freelander 2 isn't permanent 4 wheel drive. So which programme do I select for a ramp possible covered in slippery weed?

All suggestions grateful received! Zermatt Silver LR2 i6

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1997 Range Rover p38 4.6 V8
2003 Range Rover L322 4.4V8
1989 Range Rover Classic 3.9 V8
2003 Land Rover 90 Td5
2000 Range Rover p38 2.5dHSE
1975 Land Rover 90 SIII 2.25 petrol
1996 Range Rover p38 4.0 V8
1990 Discovery 3.5i V8 (3 door)
1973 Range Rover Classic 3.5 V8 (2 door, ex-Police)

If there's not enough traction, then no setting will work.
Mud and Ruts will engage the Haldex 100% of the time, but the Freelander 2 is still only a 2WD with traction control.
In my experience, it's better to use a long rope so the vehicle can remain on a high grip surface. 2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Soon to be sold.
Hyundai Ionic 5 Ultimate on order.
Gone. 2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE.

Seem to remember a clip of a LR (?) sliding down a slipway into the drink whilst trying to launch or retrieve a boat. I think it was somewhere in Ireland. MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

Don't forget a spare pair of undies.

^^^LOL

Also, disable DSC?

Grass/Gravel/Snow Special Program. - Book says try DSC Off if in very slippery snow like conditions.

As far as I know the FL2 always starts with Haldex locked up (0-about 20mph?)

Be careful with getting a correct trailer nose weight, so that you traction is spread evenly as possible over all 4 FL2 wheels. (Too much nose weight will take weight/traction from front axle/wheels)

Be ready to secure boat trailer if you need to detach FL2 to recover it, and then perhaps try again with rope/winch attached allowing car to be on firm ground.

Do not go in too deep as floating the car will decrease available traction.

You could ease your task by clearing loose weed etc from the slipway, before you start.

Important note - our boat was much smaller, but we used a FWD large Estate car - good luck FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 76k+ miles) (MY2015)

I have been on slippery roads in western NSW. When the dirt road gets wet there is nothing you can do. The car will slide even from standing still. It's only when the car ends up on the scrub on the side of the road you get traction. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

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dreamlands wrote:

Don't forget a spare pair of undies.

. . . . and a video

Good evening Eyesix.

This is a good question to ask but what I would do is what another member mentioned was to use a long rope so that all four wheels if possible would be on solid ground. As we don’t know the steepness of the slope and how long with its slippery surface.
I have done this type of request before on a very slippery slope on the north wales coast when I had a Renault scenic RX4, which is not permanent 4x4 until a switch is flipped on the dash, my friends boat wasn’t that big really possibly 18feet, inboard engine with a twin axle trailer.

I just couldn’t get traction and the whole outfit slid sideways onto sand and not forward. Damaging the clutch. Fortunately not burnt out.
The car was up to the task but it’s just the seaweed on the slope.
Eventually I did get the boat and trailer up and out using a long hefty rope with the car tyres on tarmac, eventually on the second request we used a borrowed winch lashed to the tow bar. Which was a 100% job well done.

Using your car could damage the drive train and a failure getting the trailer and boat out. It’s one of those uncertainties, the car is very capable but it’s just that slope and the slime. Adding to the frustration of failure.
Is a local farmer available with a Fendt tractor or similar?

A stiff broom to scrub wheel path on slipway.

Letting tyres down to say 25psi will help.

When we are in the outback we carry sand tracks, 6 metre tow rope & 20 metre extension (never join 2 tow ropes with a shackle, a lethal weapon if a rope breaks).

Tyres with tread help!

 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

He's just getting a boat trailer up a boat ramp guys, not bungee jumping with his car.

Take it easy, use your head. If possible do it at high tide so you are on the bit of ramp that is dry most of the time.

Use the Grass Gravel Snow function.

Thousands of people do it every day. The hardest bit is getting the trailer straight on the ramp - open your tailgate so you can see the trailer. MY11 SD4 SE Auto

... and do it when the tide is high, so you don't have so far to go.

Last edited by IDL on 24th Mar 2023 11:49 am. Edited 1 time in total

Would help if you have someone else with another 4x4, rope connected to the front of the FL2 and use both vehicles in tandem 8 wheels are better than 4. 2013 FL2 XS.
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1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

If you had 'on-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning' system you could easily clean the concrete slipway. 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

Thanks for all your very useful and knowledgeable suggestions (apart from Dreamland and sidthecat

I've taken boats out the water a number of times in my Disco and P38 – not my i6.

Will keep you posted! Zermatt Silver LR2 i6

Previous

1997 Range Rover p38 4.6 V8
2003 Range Rover L322 4.4V8
1989 Range Rover Classic 3.9 V8
2003 Land Rover 90 Td5
2000 Range Rover p38 2.5dHSE
1975 Land Rover 90 SIII 2.25 petrol
1996 Range Rover p38 4.0 V8
1990 Discovery 3.5i V8 (3 door)
1973 Range Rover Classic 3.5 V8 (2 door, ex-Police)