[kleggy]

Hey Guys,

Probably going to get for this. But just wondering how capable are the little sierras in comparison to larger 4x4's like the Patrols & Cruisers? I have only ever had 4x4 utes, and the mates all have have large 4x4's so i have never ridden. driven, or been 4x4ing with a sierra.

How good are they offroad? Where do they excel? Where do they fall short? Any information would be great

I have a sierra that maybe available to me within the next month. For reasonably cheap and in excellent condition. I also have just got a work car to drive around so contemplating getting the sierra as a weekend car

Thanks!

[tanshi]

your going to get a biased view here be cause we love suzukis.

Let me put it in the most unbaised way i can. I drive an LJ50 in entry level comps. Tough Tracks in in SEQ

I recently won the class im in up against other suzukis and patrols, cruisers, bunderas etc.

Suzukis were in the top 3, followed by a bundera. and then more suzukis.

patrols and cruisers were last by a long way.

the only place ive seen suzukis struggle where others bigger cars are better is some long steep hill climbs.

[Gwagensteve]

In actual terrain, sierras are far more capable. They struggle with load carrying, long distance travel, and with speed.

Big car owners tend to confuse momentum with capability. That is they can line something up and smash their way through with inertia and mass. If that doesn't work they are on the winch. A sierra can pick its way through an obstacle slowly and in control because they're smaller and lighter.

I've owned a range of hiluxes and my gwagen ran 35" or bigger tyres (and twin diff locks) for ten years and none of them could match a geared sierra with 31's and one locker offroad.

[droverdave]

The downside (as gwangen mentions) of the suzuki's is getting to and from the 4wd tracks, and taking all your camping stuff with you. This is where the suzuki's dont excel.

But if you are patient and pack light-ish, its certainly do-able.

[SierraDan]

^ what they said.

But SWB Sierras would climb better with more wheelbase. LWB Sierras on big tyres are the go

[Gwagensteve]

Wheelbase (lack of it) is definitely a disadvantage on steep climbs and ledges. I think SWB's are too short for steep climbs. My extended LWB is at 100.5" and it climbs very well, but it starts to feel like a big car when it comes to line choice.

Steve.

[kleggy]

Is it true there is both leaf and cool sierras available?

What is better? What are the advantages/disadvantages of both?

[tanshi]

urrgghh

[Gwagensteve]

You'd best do a search on that, it's been covered in immense detail countless times, but in short, coil sierras have a terrible suspension design and almost no parts availability or interchangeability with a leaf car. They are nicer on road and look better, especially the dashboard.

Steve.

[oohsam]

I dunno about sierra's as I own an EFI vitara. And I can tell you, what Tanshi says is extremley true.
My car struggles on the highway, and up big hills on the way to the campsite. But my mate with an 80 series landcruiser with all the bells and whistles, also struggles.
And then when its time to wheel, I'm slow going up hills, but I always get there, sometimes he doesn't.

Overall I'm happy with my vitara, but sometimes I wish I had a little more power. Its that feeling when ya press the throttle, and it does nothing while you're climbing that irritates me. That, plus the perception that I drive a hairdressers car....Otherwise, its all good.

I reckon in future I'd probably buy a SWB Patrol, or SWB Pajero or something. Who knows.

[Gwagensteve]

And then spend every trip saying "I wish I hadn't got rid of my Suzuki"

Heard that enough.

Steve

[oohsam]

Gwagensteve wrote:

And then spend every trip saying "I wish I hadn't got rid of my Suzuki"

Heard that enough.

Steve

hahaha Too right.

[Chop]

GV oohsam

[BlueSuzy]

Buy a leaf sierra. Drive it. You will love it.

Rough and ready for anything. Easy to mod. Easy to repair.
(except for the carbs when they play up)

[stockman]

Gwagensteve wrote:

And then spend every trip saying "I wish I hadn't got rid of my Suzuki"

Heard that enough.

Steve

x2

Been there done that.

Sirria4lyf.

[1DYX]

On Cattle stations in the NW, they would blitz Cruisers/Patrol/Landrovers. The only downfall we EVER had, was they were underpowered.
And if you parked a LJ50 on top of a bull, the bull would throw it off.

[Red89]

Gwagensteve wrote:

Wheelbase (lack of it) is definitely a disadvantage on steep climbs and ledges. I think SWB's are too short for steep climbs. My extended LWB is at 100.5" and it climbs very well, but it starts to feel like a big car when it comes to line choice.

Steve.

Depends greatly on the terrain you drive, 100" and only 35's and you will be bellying out a lot over here. From experience in WA rampover is more important as we dont tend to have too many long hills but more steep stepups and shelves where WB can help but the longer you go the more likely you are to belly out. I was on 33's with 20" belly and 86" WB and the underneath of my car looked like it had been molestered by a corkscrew, my rear spring chassis mounts and crossmember were destroyed, the chassis and drivershafts were all heavily gouged and my raised TC even has rock rash on it.

As far as small v's big my experience is the same as Tanshi, with doing fairly well in several local comps when up against cars that were all a lot larger and a lot more expensive then mine.

[SierraDan]

Ill agree with ramp over being helpful. Im too low for a lot of steps. But the low COG outweighs the low ramp over

[Red89]

Yer it becomes a balance between COG, wheelbase and rampover.

[SierraDan]

Id be waayy too low if i had a LWB. On 31's anyway.

[got_bar_work]

That the problem i have
with 98"wb and only 13"chassis height I'm always getting hung up on steps

[Zook_Fan]

Are the people that are having issues of being hung up run a belly plate? You're still going to get hung up but for the 5mm or so loss of clearance you will significantly reduce the friction under the car and have a much better chance of pulling the car over it with minimal traction.

[got_bar_work]

not yet but will do when car is finnished being rebuilt

[SierraDan]

Rear spring mounts more than anything.

[laurie]

oohsam wrote:

I dunno about sierra's as I own an EFI vitara. And I can tell you, what Tanshi says is extremley true.
My car struggles on the highway, and up big hills on the way to the campsite. But my mate with an 80 series landcruiser with all the bells and whistles, also struggles.
And then when its time to wheel, I'm slow going up hills, but I always get there, sometimes he doesn't.

Overall I'm happy with my vitara, but sometimes I wish I had a little more power. Its that feeling when ya press the throttle, and it does nothing while you're climbing that irritates me. That, plus the perception that I drive a hairdressers car....Otherwise, its all good.

I reckon in future I'd probably buy a SWB Patrol, or SWB Pajero or something. Who knows.

i D.D a sierra and yes it is not fast or powerful ( i just leave earlier and cruise along )
still get where you are going just takes a few more minutes. down shifting for hills.
my car cost less than a major service for a 100 series so you get what you pay for i suppose.
yes it also carries less stuff but with careful packing you can carry more than enough for an extended trip.
off road it shines. lots more available lines over most obstacles than a large car.
heaps of information on how to modify which is easy and cheap. also easy for trackside repairs if needed as its a simple mechanical platform.
one of the best cars i have owned. now to load it up for the weekend

[tanshi]

I still get bellied out on steps in my LJ50 with 76 inch wheel base and about 16 inch belly, i run a flat belly and just hit things harder.

[Marko_SJ]

Well what do you know, this turned out to be a very interesting thread, about wheelbase and belly outs

LWB sierra FTW.