[FUBAR]

Hi, been looking for ages at Suzuki mods to a buggy for all beach work but still not so sure if its best way to go
I live on beach and need something to carry my crabbing, fishing gear, dog, fridge etc and occasional passenger.
Instead of $20k on a SXS would look at stripping a Suzuki but which model. Am a mechanic with car hoist etc so work not an issue.
Is there a Vitara with strongest diffs, axles etc, remove panels and lightly bar out for rigidity. Lift kit of some type wanted also both for clearance and easier for my 6'2" (188cm) getting in and out. Bigger wheels a must.
Understand a lot of aftermarket kits, diff swaps etc around but Im not racing or abusing it and less $ the better.
Seems a lot of 2nd hand cars around but reading your posts have realised its not all same same between vehicles with suspension, track, strength etc.
Like the look of the Zooks with front axle moved forward for big wheels and thereby weight of engine/trans moves back slightly
Any advice appreciated
Thankyou

[AckerDackerly]

I know that these are a bit hard to come by and tend to be small, but I would like to suggest a leaf-spring Sierra.

Pros:
In stock condition, they can go anywhere. They are lightweight. With high-flotation tyres, they do well in sand. They are incredibly simple to maintain.

Cons:
Except for the Maruti Gypsy (from India), they have a very short wheelbase - which makes them pretty uncomfortable unless you air down the tyres.
The coil-springed versions are said not to be as good, suspension-wise. I have no first-hand experience with that - only the words of my Aussie compatriots.

A 4-door Vitara will outperform the Sierra from a creature comfort and load carrying standpoint. However, it is a newer vehicle with complicated suspension and engine-control systems.

I have owned two 4-doors - a manual 1993 1.6 Sidekick and an automatic 2.6 V6 Geo (Chevrolet) Tracker. For off-road useage, I would stick with the first-gen Vitara like my Sidekick-type Vitara. Simple transfercase/4WD system and overall less complicated to maintain on the side of the road.

I currently own and drive an '88 Samurai with a 4.5 inch spring over lift and a few other engine and differential niceties. It is my backup daily driver. I have driven it on long trips when I was younger, but I prefer not to do that as it is hard on my creaky old body these days.

....and yes, I am an American.

I do hope that this helps!

Cheers!

[Eddy]

At 6'2" The LWB Vitara is what you want.

Both my sons are about that and have no probs in our Vit, I'm just on 6' and I drive with the seat 2 - 3 notches forward.

If you are gunna interfere with panels anyway, a lift shouldn't be necessary, just cat out and 31s on 7 inch and you're good to go, even 32 or 33 may work depending on how insistent you are with that panelwork

As you're only intending to cruise along the beach with your gear on board, and there is no fierce competition to be first to get somewhere silly, you shouldn't need to get into the gearing and heavy duty transmissions/diffs etc. That there is just a whole separate little world for people with no discernible link between their right foot and their wallets

[atari4x4]

2.0l SV420 vitara