[Garrehz]

Hi guys and gals,

Should hopefully come into posession of my brand spanker 2012 1.3l (steel) manual Jimny sierra today. My bro and dad both have 4 wheel drives (Dad an FJ cruiser, Bro a Navara) So looking forward to going offroad with them. So obviously she is stock as a rock and I will need to change that ASAP

What is the expert advice on what to do first? Better tyres? Change steel wheels to alloys? 2" lift? rear diff lock? Any help would be appreciated as this is the first four wheel drive I have personally owned.

Will post pics when I get home (at work) but yeh pretty much exactly as it looks in the ads.

Thanks guys and gals!

Gary

[zukmeista]

The first thing you should do is drive it, then decide what needs improving.

[tanshi]

if your driving with a navara and an fj cruiser you wont need to change much at all.

[Reubs]

zukmeista wrote:

The first thing you should do is drive it, then decide what needs improving.

X2 - learn to drive it first and make up your own mind...

[Garrehz]

I have driven four wheel drives a fair bit, just never owned one. Mainly landrover 110's, Landcruisers and mates Hilux's from my time in defence. Obviously this is going to be different. I just wanted to get a feel of what the general changes most people would start off with first.

[drewhoo]

tanshi wrote:

if your driving with a navara and an fj cruiser you wont need to change much at all.

And definitely do not take upgrade advice off them. Your car is chalk vs their cheese. I also spend more time wheeling with bigger 4wd's - a landcruiser and ford ranger and their upgrade motivations are very different.

I use mine as my daily as well as offroad, about 50/50 hours-wise. First thing I discovered was a need for bigger tyres to raise the diffs,which I was always getting hung-up on (225's are enough for me) and I got 2" suspension lift as well, since the old jimny suspension was shot anyway and would help fit the tyres. But, I also drive at stockton (sand) and the car is noticeably worse-off in sand with these things. So everything is a trade off.

Bigger tyres makes me think about doing gearing, but on balance, I prefer the lower revs on the highway, so I haven't been pushed for a need (plus its a big job, and involves sourcing old parts). I have recently installed a rear air locker, which has reduced the need more-so as I can generally idle over things, whereas I used to need to flat-foot much of the time (raising risk of damage).

I think the general theme of this thread is going to be drive it until you can get over something then buy it. Which I 100% concur with. The most obvious capability gain I have had is with the locker, but I waited to fit that until i really needed it.

The other consideration for you is a brand new jimny, probably protection. I have avoided big bars of any sort to keep the weight down, I dont care if I get new pinstripes down my car, but I suspect you might?

[zukenutter]

pins stripes generally buff out

[Garrehz]

haha not too fussed on the pin stripes mate, no point going offroad if you dont expect a few war wounds

[speedyblue]

The 1.3 petrol is very different from the 4bd1 diesel in the army landies. One has huge torque at idle speeds and very low gearing while the other needs revs to make power and has much higher low range gearing so it's a completely different driving technique.

[bigdogdazza]

I would first be asking your dealer what may void warranty claims etc such as bigger tyres or suspension mods etc etc then weigh up if you really need to do it or not?

[alien]

like the others said - drive the hell out of it...

my cousin's jimny runs 215/75r15 BFG KM2 on the stock rims with zero lift... he has a ball driving that around on and off road... sure it wont go everywhere, but he still drives everywhere my modified sierra goes, he just takes a different line to get there.

IMO, for a jimny... 2" springs, 215/75r15 tyres and airlockers front and rear and it'll be a great, reliable little rig.