Originally Posted by
JasonPD
So (and this is a non pisstake question) are those little Suzuki Jimnys any good for this? Had one in at work the other day and the mechanic from opposite me came over saying he used to have an old one and it was great in the snow etc. My Mrs thinks they are kinda cool and I could only justify owning one if it was proper muddy and used for driving through swamps...
Also, I assume you can join a club or something to find out when you can legally do it without p1ssing off the landowner?
Perfect for it! Their weakness is the narrow track, if you're driving where bigger trucks have been regularly it will sit on the diffs or radius arms.
I would go where better equipped trucks could. Even the biggest ruts can be overcome with better driving.
The problem with things like 90's/discos/rangies etc.. is that even with big tyres the weight of the truck will overcome the traction they can provide. Something smaller will just pick its way around.
Jimny will need serious mods to take big rubber under it. 29" tyres are the limit on standard gearing imho but a 2" lift and 195/15 tyres on offsets will see it round most things and allow it to still be halfway useful on road. You'd need to do some future proofing, raised breathers as a start point, replace king pin bearings and use a motor cross or marine grease too. Some decent recovery points are essential.
Rear shock relocation brackets help with flex at the back, front is limited by the arb.
Parts aren't as accessible as they are for the green oval. As with all modifying one area will show up a weakness elsewhere. Bang on a 4/5" lift kit, extended arms, you'll have room for bigger boots but then the gearing will be way out and you'll be unsafe descending. You'll need a crawler box then, that will all put you in all the real challenging stuff. Then you'll need a cage....
I had a 2" spring spacer lift, shock extenders, rear shock relocation mounts, 195s on offsets, I used it daily and it went every where i pointed it. I had water parting round the windscreen and the back wheels floating.
I only stopped as I didn't have the time to commit to take up competing and paying £25 a fortnight to drive round a quarry was getting a bit boring. Laning has never interested me as we don't have any really good lanes round here. All the best ones are too short or inaccessible for months due to tractor ruts.
To lane safely you need a few people in case you get stuck. You can legally drive B.O.A.Ts - byway open to all traffic. They're on OS maps and you can speak to the council rights of way officer to make sure they're not subject to a TRO. You don't need to be in a club but usually they will have some old members that know all the lanes. Just don't try and turn up in a Jimny! The ones round my way never wanted to know unless you had a landy.