[MrMcZookster]

Hi all! I’m about to buy my very first Suzuki tomorrow (well hopefully if it all looks as good in the flesh). I’ve owned numerous Nissan Patrols, currently driving a SWB Maverick but I’m getting over crying at the petrol bowser every time I fill up what is essentially a tractor to wrestle down the highway to get into the bush. After doing a fair bit of research I figured a V6 GV would be a much more civilised ride that is still a very capable off-road truck that won’t suck the life out of my wallet every time I fill her up! To be honest I’ve always overlooked these mighty little Suzuki’s.....being a GQ owner I always figured I had the best rig you could get for the bush but after countless YouTube videos I’m really excited to be getting into a GV and having a vehicle I can use as a civilised daily drive thatll still get me to the places I like to go off the beaten track! I have a sneaking suspicion that a GV will get me everywhere I go in my GQ and in leather clad luxury!!
My only concern is clearance and I’m sure this has been asked so many times before but like I said I’m a total zook noob so plz don’t crucify me . I’m thinking of a 2inch lift and new tyres and rims to give me a little more clearance. I’ll be putting on a bullbar and possibly a winch as well. My question after all that long winded babble is what rim/tyre combo do you guys recommend that’ll give me a couple inches and decent rubber in the scrub/sand but still be ok on the road? And also any advice on lifts, dobinsons?
Again I apologise for what must have been asked a hundred times but I’m pretty keen to fit out my new rig and get into it!

[Eddy]

Hiya and welcome.
first up .. a vitara is not and never will be a "truck"

You'll be lookin at 29 - 30 inch tyres, but I think you're on 16 or 17 inch rims, even so there's a good selection available. IF you're on 17" rims, maybe think about finding some 16s.

I have a 2" body lift on my '94 Vit, and 30s fit easy (235/75r15 or 30x9.5r15) and can fit some of the smaller 31x10.5r15

[ZUZUKI]

Like wise, Hi & welcome to Suzuki's.
If it is badged 'Prestige' & has a V6 - probably the 3.2litre - the best combination IMO.
But, if so, it will have all the fruit & be on 18" rims.
Will be 2009-2011 with traction control - not bad, but no locking diffs are available for these full independent suspension guys.
2" of lift is 3/4" too much. Can fit 17" from a lesser model & then 245/70R17 with slight adjustment to plastics - that's about 30.5" & as good as it gets. The 3.2 has no problem pulling the over gearing effect of this size.
Yes, they are a bit low & the T/case & exhaust clearance issues are hard to deal with.
ARB & Ironman do traditional bullbars, but they say they don't fit - due to headlight washing on this spec. Can be dealt with, with a bit of mucking around.
Again, ARB & Ironman do suspension kits for these & both seem to do a good job.
Rgs, Michael

[MrMcZookster]

Hey thanks guys! Yep it’s the 3.2 with the 18” rims. I was suspecting I’d need a smaller set of rims and was thinking of just putting on a set of 15” sunraysias to get the job done. Michael, why do you say 2” is 3/4” too much? Are there issues with cv’s or cambers going up to 2”? If I could get 31” or 30.5” tyres under those guards with a lift I’d surely be getting some decent clearance. And with the transfer case hanging low down there are there any mobs doing bash plates? I’m not wanting to rock crawl but I am wanting to get amongst it and also hit the inland Fraser tracks too so every inch counts.
Cheers,
Dan.

[HamiHarr]

MrMcZookster wrote:

Hey thanks guys! Yep it’s the 3.2 with the 18” rims. I was suspecting I’d need a smaller set of rims and was thinking of just putting on a set of 15” sunraysias to get the job done. Michael, why do you say 2” is 3/4” too much? Are there issues with cv’s or cambers going up to 2”? If I could get 31” or 30.5” tyres under those guards with a lift I’d surely be getting some decent clearance. And with the transfer case hanging low down there are there any mobs doing bash plates? I’m not wanting to rock crawl but I am wanting to get amongst it and also hit the inland Fraser tracks too so every inch counts.
Cheers,
Dan.

Don't go smaller than 16" rims as anything smaller may not clear the brakes.

Regarding max suspension lift - it is to do with the suspension design and, in particular, the design of the bushes on the lower front control arm. Increasing the angle of the suspension will increase the torsion on the bush, leading to failure. It is generally accepted that 40mm is the max lift that is worthwhile, and many on this forum question the value of lift at all in the NGV given drawbacks (reducing articulation of suspension). Lift through tyres is good and the biggest tyres are 245/75 R16 (around 30.5inch) that will fit without major modifications. Staying within legal requirements is important as well for insurance purposes.

I have the 2.4l, so a bit different, but I run 40mm lift and 225/75 tyres. Overall, I have found this to be a significant upgrade in offroad performance. I recently had a chance to have some fun in soft sand tracks with a stock NGV. The stock vehicle really struggled (bogged multiple times despite running lower pressures etc.), while my vehicle with the modest mods glided through. My clearance will now be around 250mm, up from the 200mm (though the rear suspension arms are lower next to the wheels). While still very capable, I have found that you will simply run out of clearance and articulation (therefore grip) before other bigger trucks and this will mean you will not be able to go all the same places (but will be able to follow most places). If you are on a track that has been torn up by rigs with 35's and 6 inch lifts, you wont be able to follow (unless you are able to straddle the ruts), but on sand the NGV really is great and very capable (and if you do get stuck it is easy to recover by virtue of being hundreds of kgs lighter).

Regarding bash plates, ironman have designed a kit that is easy to install and is good (though comes at a slight cost to clearance and ramp over angles). I have a kit and it has taken a couple of big knocks when I was careless (if you are a better driver than me, then you could get away without them).

[ZUZUKI]

Hi Dan,
I agree with HamiHarr - I have seen a Prestige 3.2 on 16" rims, but there was a fag paper of clearance to the front calipers.
Tyres in 18" rim with the overall diameter we are looking for are limited, where as 245/70R17 has more choices.
I have noticed with these NGV's that they transmit a lot more tyre noise into the car than the earlier SQ series GV.
We like the Federal Couragia M/T, a good tyre for the price & not normally that noisy, but on a NGV (Diesel) the owner couldn't stand the racket & went back to an A/T pattern. Another car running Cooper Discover STT Pro is noisier than other cars with these tyres.

Ultimately, the tyre size limiting factor is the coil seat on the front struts, which is not practicable to work around.
Lifting 35-40mm reduces the already miserable droop by that same amount. Going any higher means a crashy ride as there is very little down travel remaining + the control arm bush issue.

Brown Davis were looking at doing skid plates, don't know how far they got with them.
The Ironman plates are a decent start, but the T/case bit needs a new mount bracket & a bit of folding IMO.

The 3.2 has plenty of go, so much so, that an owner I know has trouble going nice & controlled when in terrain that requires a slow & steady approach - she claims it is just too easy to spin the wheels & sometimes that is not what you want. Sand though, is an ideal surface for a bit of power - have fun!.
Rgs, Michael