[Vash]

Hi guys,

Planning to do the frenchline in winter, and looking at some advice on prep of my vehicle.

Ive read a few reports of desert driving and nightmares of broken CVs & whatnot.

Are the suzukis tough enough for long remote desert trips? Especially mine which has 280,000km on the chassis but has a fairly fresh motor in it.

Obviously i would replace bushes, shocks, springs, but im really in unknown territory on the condition of the diff. I know the CVs are pretty new, and having very little 4WD experience i dont know how tough these cars are compared to my other hobby, off-road motorcycles which are pretty much unbreakable.

Last trip i went up the mountains down the coast and drove the vitara hard, keeping up with trail bikes. Afterwards the rear shocks felt abit funny for some reason and the girlfriend threw up on one of the downhills, but she still didnt complain, she was havin' a ball

[3cyl]

I've crossed the Simpson from north to south and west to east, though in a Defender dualcab, not a Vitara. As far as 4WDing goes I don't see a problem. I think you'll have to watch you don't load it up too much though. Wouldn't want a bad CV boot to let in the sand. Also it's a pretty big run just getting there and the western side from Mt Dare to Dalhousie springs is gibber, not sand. I think reliability will be more important than outright ability. Also don't attempt to drive across wet salt lakes, don't ask how I know this.

[Ben_Sierra]

I know a bunch of guys that have done all sorts of desert trips in Zooks. And I'm talking 2 strokes. So I reckon you'll be right..

[Vash]

I was thinking of putting 30-31s on as it has a 2" body lift, but concerned i might do a front diff or CV since i heard they are weak on the vitaras, especially if you put bigger tyres on.

Do you mean load it up as in, weight, or power load?

[got_bar_work]

Weight is going to be ur biggest problem do not load it up to much . Take a trailer if u have to as the weight will tear the vit apart
Friends of mine did some out back trips in their vit and on one of them the rear crossmember that holds the a arm in cracked along with some other parts of the chassis
As for rubber I woulnt go anymore then 30 and take 2 spares

[Ben_Sierra]

I wouldn't have thought that going bigger tyres is going to give you any great advantage, so why not stick with the stock ones? You should get better economy and have less chance of breaking shit. Definitely 2 spares though...

[Vash]

hmm interesting, so what sort of limit on weight should i keep to?

[LittleJeep]

i think with stock tires you will struggle for clearance as the IFS on the Vit will act as an anchor(i have seen this with almost all IFS cars in sand). as the suspension compresses, your diff clearance will decrease a lot, and it will 'dive' into the sand. however, if you go too big it will end up killing fuel economy and you may or may not brake something. which direction are you planning on heading?(East -> West, or West -> East).

[3cyl]

Also are you traveling with another vehicle? Nice if you can either share spares or get someone to take some stuff. You'll need extra water and fuel for 600km of sand work. Also a good cooling system. Tyre repair kits are good insurance too. Don't think towing a trailer would be a good experience.