islandgun Posted February 11, 2021 Report Share Posted February 11, 2021 I may have have narrowed down my search to the two mentioned, both would suit my needs. Does anyone have first hand experience of either ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 11, 2021 Report Share Posted February 11, 2021 I've got a Freelander 2 TD4 GS. Bought new in 2008. It's been excellent on and off road. Fitted with General Grabber AT3's. Mainly used on road but good off road too. A very comfortable ride on road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted February 11, 2021 Report Share Posted February 11, 2021 Bit chalk and cheese really, one the Ford pickup a work horse the other a gentleman farmers wheels. I don't own either but have driven both, the ford a little rough around the edges but a solid work horse that you can hose down, the other much more refined but a bit to posh for muddy boots, both very capable off road, depends on what you will be using it for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted February 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2021 cheers Steve and oldun, I will need something for taking machinery equipment etc off road when my present vehicle dies. also a few trips down south per year [mostly winter] a crew cab pickup would do both as would a freelander with a trailer.. Im concerned mostly with reliability and rot .as i want a few years use out of it. budget £ 10,000 approx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peejay Posted February 11, 2021 Report Share Posted February 11, 2021 (edited) i have 07 freelander.. good enough for my purpose of getting over fields with pigeon stuff. and very comfy on road ..just done 200156 miles also.. Edited February 11, 2021 by peejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adzyvilla Posted February 11, 2021 Report Share Posted February 11, 2021 I had a ranger for work. I think it was an 05 (this was 10+ years ago now) thunder, 2.5 had all the leather interior, big truckman canopy. It was not bad to drive actually, even on longer journeys. Towed OK. Main problem was rust, especially on the body panels. Farmer mate had a 09 plate 3.0 wildtrak, same problems with rust, his was chassis rust. I think it's fairly common with them, but if you can have a good look before making an offer, an easy problem to screen for, and a good one looked after will give you years of service. As far as I know, the fl2 is a good all rounder. The engines are strong, and your money will get you a decent one. I think the pickup is more practical, but the freelander would probably be nicer to own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted February 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2021 (edited) 19 minutes ago, adzyvilla said: I had a ranger for work. I think it was an 05 (this was 10+ years ago now) thunder, 2.5 had all the leather interior, big truckman canopy. It was not bad to drive actually, even on longer journeys. Towed OK. Main problem was rust, especially on the body panels. Farmer mate had a 09 plate 3.0 wildtrak, same problems with rust, his was chassis rust. I think it's fairly common with them, but if you can have a good look before making an offer, an easy problem to screen for, and a good one looked after will give you years of service. As far as I know, the fl2 is a good all rounder. The engines are strong, and your money will get you a decent one. I think the pickup is more practical, but the freelander would probably be nicer to own. expand Thats it in a nutshell. Blackbird has pointed out the lack of boot space with the freelander which might be an important issue for a week or two a year ! Rust is a problem. My thoughts are that a freelander is less likely to have been abused than a ranger or other pickup [school run lady owner] .........perhaps a school run pickup !! Edited February 11, 2021 by islandgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 11, 2021 Report Share Posted February 11, 2021 2 hours ago, islandgun said: My thoughts are that a freelander is less likely to have been abused than a ranger or other pickup [school run lady owner] .........perhaps a school run pickup !! Daughter in law has a Freelander only used for school runs. Completely trashed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hod Posted February 11, 2021 Report Share Posted February 11, 2021 2 hours ago, 39TDS said: Daughter in law has a Freelander only used for school runs. Completely trashed!! Tell me about it. My truck was 6 tears old when I got it. The interior was in great condition. 2 years of 3 kids in it... now looks like it’s been used to transport livestock around in for a decade 😬. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted February 12, 2021 Report Share Posted February 12, 2021 I would have the ranger but I am biased as thats whats sitting on my drive. 10k should get you a decent truck just look around for one thats not been too abused, there are plenty to choose from For your budget I would look for the 2.2 Limited spec, it offers a decent level of kit and engine is more than capable. I have the 3.2 but thats only because it spends 70% of its life towing large trailers. Budget in a new hard top if one is not already fitted, the roller shutters are carp and let too much water in even from new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted February 12, 2021 Report Share Posted February 12, 2021 20 hours ago, islandgun said: I will need something for taking machinery equipment etc off road when my present vehicle dies. also a few trips down south per year [mostly winter] a crew cab pickup would do both as would a freelander with a trailer.. I own an L200, so can't comment on either vehicle, but I'd suggest a crew cab pickup is a far better choice for your envisaged use. Honestly, it was a bit of a revelation when I got mine. All the dirty stuff, tools and kit is confined to the rear, and keeps the cab clear. There's a reason the crew cab pickup has replaced the Land Rover as the farmer's vehicle of choice - and not just that they could go 80% of the places a Landie could go but were 2/3rds the price, and also had such luxuries as a heater that worked...They actually fit a farmer's needs better, in my view. I do have a love/hate relationship with hard tops though, but I suppose it depends on the crime level in your area, and what you need to transport. I helped a friend do some running repairs on his Freebie2 - and honestly I wouldn't entertain one. Lacking in practicality for me, but as others have pointed out, makes for acceptable transport if doecoying is your thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted February 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2021 Thanks for the replies, all good..👍 A pickup would make the most sense no doubt, although for the same money freelander's often have much less miles on the clock. I think I will look for a low miles FSH clean pickup........ if that exist's .🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted February 12, 2021 Report Share Posted February 12, 2021 just a point that you mentioned in an earlier post about rust problems with the Ford Ranger, well out of curiosity I did a search on rust problems with the Ranger and yes it does seem to suffer with rust problems but so do other 4x4, if you can get a good pickup I would be tempted to give it a good coat of waxoyl (still the best). Have you given the old X-Trail any thought? They made them up till 2014 and you would get a good one for your budget, bags of room in them and very good off road. good luck with your search Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted February 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2021 48 minutes ago, old'un said: just a point that you mentioned in an earlier post about rust problems with the Ford Ranger, well out of curiosity I did a search on rust problems with the Ranger and yes it does seem to suffer with rust problems but so do other 4x4, if you can get a good pickup I would be tempted to give it a good coat of waxoyl (still the best). Have you given the old X-Trail any thought? They made them up till 2014 and you would get a good one for your budget, bags of room in them and very good off road. good luck with your search Steve hi David, I wont restrict myself to just rangers it will be all comers and yes it would receive some copious amounts of anti-foul, I reckon the pickup would be most suitable as i will be able to stick a wet spaniel, animal food, bales, rotovator and a box of fish in the back without the muck/smell..😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex Keeper Posted February 13, 2021 Report Share Posted February 13, 2021 Had my Ford ranger it’s a 2013 5years now sold it once but then I pulled out very good all round truck put some good boots on tho If lots of off road work I use maxxi bighorn 275 65 18 the 3.2 is best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevorevans Posted February 13, 2021 Report Share Posted February 13, 2021 Owned a Freelander2 for 2 months back last May/June. It was a nice place to be, HSE so had all the toys too but in those 2 months the dealer had it more than I did, rear diff, haldex pump and then front PTU, but by the time I’d driven it home it had started making a new noise, dealer just said to bring it back and he’d give me my money and old car back. It was immaculate and had only done 62k miles. Maybe it was a bad one but I was too scared to buy another so I’ve just bought a Q5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted February 21, 2021 Report Share Posted February 21, 2021 I have a 58 plate Ranger 3.0 wildtrrack that I’ve owned for the last 5 years. It’s a second car so it doesn’t get used every day but it’s a great vehicle, comfortable, nice to drive on road and very capable off road. I’ve spent a couple of weeks travelling around Harris and Lewis and I honestly think a Ranger would be perfect on those roads and tracks. For the longer runs, I have stalking in Argyle & Bute and the truck sits happily at 70-80 on the motorway on my regular trips up north from Yorkshire, it’s definitely not a chore to drive longer journeys. I may have got lucky with mine, but in the last 5 years, apart from servicing, it has cost me a set of tyres, a set of pads & disks and three bulbs - every service, my mechanic mate reminds me that if I ever want to sell it, he has first dibs. Personally, I’d thoroughly recommend a ranger to anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
243deer Posted February 21, 2021 Report Share Posted February 21, 2021 Owned a Freelander 1 TD4 for around 80000 miles commuting without a problem apart from a pita brake sensor. My Freelander had less ground clearance than RRs/Discos etc which was a bit of an issue on badly rutted tracks. I drive a farmers Freelander 2 and it is pretty good on slippery mud, all computer controlled you just press a mode button, it is a joy to tow with. Sold my F1 because an L200 truck came up at a price not to be missed. I concur about the roller covers leaking but they do go nicely over a plasterer's tub to cover up dead deer. Have sold my trailer as simply do not need it with the truck happily transporting timber, paving slabs, corrugated, sheets of ply, top soil etc. Used a Ford Ranger to tow the beaters wagon, it went pretty much anywhere. Doubt I will return to a Freelander. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spr1985 Posted February 21, 2021 Report Share Posted February 21, 2021 I’ve recently purchased a ranger wildtrack 3.2 manual. I can’t comment on its reliability having only owned it for less than a week but, what I can confirm is it’s absolutely lovely to drive very smooth with plenty of power and I’d highly recommend test driving one. one thing I will say is watch your speed 👀 I looked down earlier thinking I was doing 65/70 ish only to see the needle at 80 😐 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted February 21, 2021 Report Share Posted February 21, 2021 On 12/02/2021 at 15:51, old'un said: just a point that you mentioned in an earlier post about rust problems with the Ford Ranger, well out of curiosity I did a search on rust problems with the Ranger and yes it does seem to suffer with rust problems but so do other 4x4, if you can get a good pickup I would be tempted to give it a good coat of waxoyl (still the best). Have you given the old X-Trail any thought? They made them up till 2014 and you would get a good one for your budget, bags of room in them and very good off road. good luck with your search Steve I've had both the Ranger and Freelander and from those two for your needs I'd have said the former. However, I've also had the X Trail - 3 actually. The only reason that I don't have one now - if we ignore my normal usage which didn't suit diesel - is because I've got old and have slowed down and a smaller version - Yeti - suits me better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted February 25, 2021 Report Share Posted February 25, 2021 i have a b2500 same as a ford ranger rebadged a £1000 cheaper now at 26800 .00 miles one head gasket starts every time front clean back carcases right tyres go anywhere owned series 2 2a 3 soft dash range rover no regrets my go to b2500 a true workhorse if it dies i wouldn't know what to choose given electronic gremlins who can fix mechanically me electronicky only god knows buy old anyone can fix freelander have their own problems not for me rd unit failure £1000 .00 excess tyre wear head gaskets water pump failure leading to head gasket failure lacking in room a tescos trolly buy anything else it will be cheaper in the long run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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