[rlaxton]

Hi All,

Just bought a 3 door 2.4L 2011 GV as my daughter's first car. Part of the reason for buying the Suzuki was to support her need to do field trips for University, work and remote camping. She also needs a commuter vehicle that won't break the bank so mods need to keep that in consideration.

Our first 4WD test trip (supported by my well-upgraded Prado) was Rockey Track in Toolangi where the car performed quite well, while simultaneously showing a number of weaknesses that I would like to address. We are not trying to create a trail beast here, just something that is going to survive the odd bit of trail work and get her out and about.

Anyway, on to the questions. I have create a list of things that I would like do in the order presented below. Some I have completed, others I am having problems with.

1. Spare set of wheels (for off-road tyres). Picked up a set of OEM 16" GV wheels from eBay for $75. Bargain!
2. Proper off-road tyres (to be used only during off-road trips). Been looking at 225/75R16s for a slight size boost. Currently lead tyre candidate is the Cooper STT PRO as a super-aggressive all-terrain. I have been pretty happy with my STT MAXX which are a far cry from the old STT which seems universally reviled.
3. Underbody protection. The Ironman 4x4 looks good for the price.
4. Small lift to get a bit more clearance. Obviously not going to do anything for travel since independent suspension. Once again the Ironman 4x4 kits look good here.
5. Snorkel. The air intake is in a pretty bad location for avoiding water ingestion. Having a lot of problems here. Only snorkels seem to be for 1.9L diesel and 2.7L petrol. Nothing suits the 2.4L out of the box. Current reserve plan is to buy a 1.9L diesel part and customise the air intake piping internally myself.
6. Barwork. Not found much here. Was thinking to wait until she started to take damage before addressing it. I have seen some interesting crawler-style bars on eBay from XROX XROX bar but they look to leave a bunch of useful components dangerously exposed.

Thanks for any advice.

Richard.

[Marck]

Hi good to seee another NGV owner.

1. Yes don't forget a spare.

2. You might Find they don't fit under the factory wheel cover on the tail gate. I though I would run 2 sets but it's a pain to swap between them. Good AT's can last 80000 km the mickeys on my work car made 90k so you might find they get to old before you wear them out.

3. Yep they catch HEAPS of mud and dirt and you have to take them off to service your car. If she has any weed hygiene requirements for these uni trips they will probably be more trouble than they are worth.

4. I don't know anyone using ironman but I have dobinsons 40mm it improved the road manners of the car. If you are going to put a bar on it make sure you get the stiffer springs. A common complaint after the lift install is the top fastener on the link pins seem to come loose. Can be tightened on the road with an Allen key and spanner if need be.

5. Can't help here .

6. Xrox , iron man , arb , ecb all do bars for these cars if you want full protection without the Arb price maybe try iron man. I have an ECB alloy bar for sale in Brisbane off my my 07 5 door I have just put on xrox because it's the only way to get rated recovery points on the front of a NGV that I am aware of.

The back end of these things is waiting to be ripped off. A tow bar will let you keep your rear bar. I think the muffler in the 3 door is quite low and might get a bit of a bashing also.

[Gwagensteve]

Rocky track - that's a fair test to start with!

You look to be on the right track - sorry, can't help much with the snorkel.

I will make some comments about suspension lift though. We've had a few NGV's in the Victorian club and I've seen a few different kits working.

Broadly, I'd suggest the lift isn't really your friend. 35mm is the maximum safe lift due to the front suspension bush design, and from what I have seen wheel travel is significantly reduced due to the higher spring rates the lift entails. From what I've seen this is a bigger problem for the lighter SWB car compared to the LWB.

I'd run tyres and underbody protection but avoid suspension lift it is was my car.

Steve.

[ZUZUKI]

Agree with Steve - I was up Rocky Track a couple of months ago in my Rangie & wouldn't suggest it's a nice place to take a NGV!, but then again, the STT PRO is what most people would call an M/T tyre .

Only have experience with Safari Snorkels, but although Safari says it doesn't fit, it's only the angle of the entry to the air box which is different from other engined cars - Safari haven't made (& are unlikely to do so) a new rubber moulded intake tube (huge, complicated thing) to go between the snorkel body & the air box.
An exhaust shop can slightly expand a bit of pipe to fit & then cut & shut the pipe with a kink, adds a level of dicking around & arguably restricts the intake a little, but probably not enough to make a noticeable difference.

Underbody guards better protect the car (than the factory plastic bits), but reduce ground clearance.
I agree that it is very easy to lift a NGV too far, and that that is not very far!, but it would be good to have enough lift that the car wasn't worse off for clearance than it was, without the protection.
ARB, via OME do a kit for these cars & one of their HO employees has a SWB with an ARB bar on it - might be worth checking it out, as you seem to be in Vic. out that way.
The exhaust, as it goes under the rear suspension is vunerable, not practicable to fit protection to & will be aided by a bit of suspension lift, having said that, it is one of those cars where you have to learn to live with being low - teaches your daughter to study the track & be careful with picking lines!.

Some people like the look of the Xrox bars......not me, but as was mentioned, recovery points are a tricky area as well.

Good luck with it & welcome to AZ.
Rgs, Michael

[MrRocky]

Look to a larger 245/75r16 tyre, thes fit with no chopping on standard rims and will get your belly off the ground as theres lots of expensive bits hanging down low