[HURST]

Hi all.

Been lurking around this forum since I planned to buy my Jimny a few weeks ago.
I have it for 2 weeks now and I absolutely love it.
I also like this site a lot... great info posted, and most guys are very friendly. With time, as I gain experience, I hope I can start contributing too.

Sadly, I'm just a newby for now. I've taken my Jimny off road a few times now and I'm very impressed. I had read that they're awesome off-road machines, but the results were better than expected, even for a driver with no prior off-road experience whatsoever.
Already tried it in mud, sand and rough terrain.





I have a few question that I'm certain have been asked before, but for now my knowledge is so little, that I can't figure out the right terms to perform a search. Please, if something has been answered before, just say so and I'll search 'till I find it.

So here I go.

1.- I wan't to buy a Winch. Is 3000lb enough for the Jimny?

2.- I'm going to buy new tires soon. I was thinking about bigger tires, but I don't want to lift my Jimny yet, so I think I'll stay with 205/70-15. What are the biggest tires that can be fitted without lifting the Jimny and without having to mod the engine so it's powerful enough?

3.- Related to my second question. I read somewhere, that the low ratio in the Jimny is actually quite high, your clutch will suffer uphill with bigger tires. Is this so?

4.- After I get the Winch, I want a device similar to the PullPal (probably built by myself), since I'll be going to play in sand dunes a lot. Is this design the best for digging yourself out of sand?

5.- I probably wont do this any time soon, but I've heard wonders about diff lockers (specially ARB air lock). I don't plan on spending money on this until I realize I really need it, so for now I'll rely on the winch.
But a friend has an interesting idea: Use 2 different handbrakes, one for each rear wheel, so you can lock whichever one looses traction.
What do you think about this?

Thanks!

[S13RR4]

Welcome to Auszookers, they'll be plenty of guys with Jim's on here that can help you out (I'm not one of them sorry).

I couldn't help notice that you Jim is left hand drive....

[BUZOOKA]

for u question on hte winch i would say no u want something heavyer as u gotta remember that once teh car is stuck in mud the weight doubles so a 6000+ would be the go in my opinion

[JayKay]

Hey Mate, nice Jimny I've never seen one coloured like that before.

I too have an 08 model and will be quiet interested in hearing the answers to your questions.

Let me know what you find out

[HURST]

BUZOOKA wrote:

for u question on hte winch i would say no u want something heavyer as u gotta remember that once teh car is stuck in mud the weight doubles so a 6000+ would be the go in my opinion

Thanks for that.
Any of you had any experience with Prowinch winches?

S13RR4 wrote:

I couldn't help notice that you Jim is left hand drive....

That's right... I'm not from Australia... Greetings from Southamerica.

[BUZOOKA]

common this is auszookers lol anyway welcome mate

enjoy the hospitality

[JayKay]

HURST wrote:

That's right... I'm not from Australia... Greetings from Southamerica.

Ah that Answers my question

[vermin]

1. As suggested I would go for a 6000+

2. I think 215 75 15 are the biggest you can go wtih no lift. I know this because I did it before I lifted mine.

3. Even with the above tyre size you will notice a little bit of difference compared to stock tyres, but really it is just fine around town - I can still sit on well above 110kp/h on the highway. No real stress on the clutch at that stage.

4. Dunno...

5. I just got a rear air locker fitted and it works wonders. It means I don't need heaps of momentum to climb steep rocks etc. I have ordered a front one now as well.

Best of luck with the new car - I love my Jimny to bits I have had it since new and it's just done 11,000kms.

[jimnstar]

Hey mate
Congrats on the jimny you'll be impressed.I have an 06 model with a bullbar,80mm lift and 235/75/15 cooper st's and have taken it nearly everywhere and trust me you won't need a electric winch.Your better of getting a turfer winch as there light portable and the jimny doesn't weigh much,if you get stuck in water you can use the turfer easily under water and you can winch backwards or sidewards,not just forward like a normal winch.Agood set of allterrains and you will go anywhere,have fun

[squizzytaylor]

Welcome Hurst!!

Geoff

[lordviper556]

get a 12000ln tigerz 11 winch, they are about 800. they are supposed to be really good for the money and they come with plasma rope and only weigh about 23kgs. im considering getting one when i get my bullbar.

i also got a stando jimny, hopefully getting a set of muddies in the next couple of weeks if i got money.

[zuk95]

Hi Hurst. I would get a 8000lb winch, anything less will struggle and you'll regret it. Remember you may also have to recover larger vehicles or as already said, you might have to recover yourself up a steep hill or deep mud.

[greenzook89]

Welcome mate, you'll love your Jimny! I've had 2 and I think they are the best value for money! My first mods would be at least a 50mm lift and some 235 muddies! then see what you want to go from there, and let us know how you go!!

[HURST]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Got a 4000 Kilos (~8000 lb) manual winch today, at 1/10th of the cost of a 6000 lb electric winch. Thanks for that advice.
With the money I saved with the winch, I'm now looking for good A/T Tires.
Will keep you guys posted.

[shep]

hay mate can ya take a few photos of the bush where you live, i love seeing different places. nice jimny as well mate.

[HURST]

Here are some pics taken with my cellphone.

Going to my first off-road drive


Same day, starting to have some fun


This is the same picture from my first post, another angle.


Last Sunday, I got stucked


My mate to the rescue


Next weekend, heading to the dunes


And a few pictures from my hometown:






And the landscapes you can find just half an hour outside city limits:










Ok, this is going off-topic, sorry for all the pictures, I got carried away. Anyways, I hope you like it!

[matty_wall]

awesome pics mate!

[lordviper556]

damn i think we need to orgnise a trip

[zukenutter]

Welcome to Auszookers. I missed your thread and only just spotted it. I think you've done the right thing regarding the winch. I've been driving Suzukis for 20 years and have never been so stuck that I've needed a winch.

A good snatch-em-strap is a great addition to your recovery equipment, you'll need to be 4WDing with a friend though for it to be of any use.

I would spend the money you saved on the winch on a 50mm suspension lift and then fit either 215/75R15 or 235/75R15 size tyres. Yes your gearing will be out by 6% or 10%, you'll need to change the way you use the clutch a bit but the bigger tyres will negate the need for winch.

I'v also never had a diff lock. I'd suggest that you learn to drive without it first as you'll learn how to pick better lines through obstacles. If you decide the terrain you drive demands lockers add them when you are ready. I've often thought about the dual handbrake idea. The dune buggies built in California etc have a dual handbrake set-up which the call "turning brakes" ... or something like that.

[andrew88]

do all your jimny's come with the grey colour at the bottom?

[steak_knife]

andrew88 wrote:

do all your jimny's come with the grey colour at the bottom?

That's the pov pack, sand the paint off yours & you to can have two tone.

[atari4x4]

welcome to auszookers, i'm guessing you've had a look around & decided to stay. smart move, it's the best suzuki forum by far!

what awesome looking country, enjoy modifying the jimny.

[HURST]

Hi again mates.
Thanks for all the answers.

I'm still deciding about the tyre size. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to lift the Jimny or not. Also I'm not so fond of messing with the gearing. I think I'll wait a couple months until I make up my mind.

Regarding the diff lock, I had also thought that I better practice and learn to pick good lines before becoming a crappy driver that only relies on the difflock and the winch.

Oh, and at least here in my country, 2 colored Jimnys are the basic model, without air conditioner and electric windows. As far as I know, there is no other difference.

[monley]

Any updates?