lwb vitara mini tourer?

[qld zook]

My swb vit is going soon to make way for something bigger and more comfy for driving longer distances so im thinking of getting a lwb vit as the prices are really good and turning it into a small tourer as it usually only me and my girlfriend that go we dont need much room (the swb is alright but the ride is getting annoying).
i was thinking of basically copying the set up on my current vit (2+2 lift locked front and rear) but running 31s instead of 235\75s. has anyone had any experiance with this sort of set up in a lwb and how does it preform over long drives?
feel free to add any comment that might be usefull as i have no idea about 4door vits
Cheers

[Eddy]

I have a 94 LWB auto. Currently running 235s also, but am missing the "performance" it had on standard sized rubber. Still does ok, just a little sluggish at times. Wouldn't bother with 31s unless you're gunna do the gears.
Otherwise it's a great little tourer.
So far in the last three years we've done 2 Flinders trips, 1 to Albury area, Menindie/Wilcannia, planning another in a few weeks, then to Newcastle/Maitland in November. Also done several shorter trips towing a camper trailer. I'm quite happy to jump in and drive to Adelaide at the drop of a hat, (360 km round trip) ... plenty comfortable for that.

Fuel consumption is only a little more than The Daughter's SWB, usually 29-30 mpg, and about 25 mpg loaded. (sorry ... don't have the metric figures ... means nothing to me ... )

[qld zook]

sounds good. that one of the problems i find with my swb is that i just cant find the motivetion these days to go for long drives as it bump and turns into a pain in the arse (pun intended)

[cj]

My old lwb was a 2" body and 2" suspension locked front and rear on 31's for a bit. It certainly will ride better than a swb plus you get a bigger fuel tank and more space. The downside is that the tyres will hurt the gearing a bit with a stock engine setup. It's still useable but that last gear doesn't get as much use as it used to. I did modify the exhaust and cam side of things on mine and that improved it quite a bit. If Calmini ever bring back the 5.83 R&P's then that would solve the performance drop nicely.

[qld zook]

yep took a lwb for a drive today and its a vast improvent on the swb. so now its just a matter of finding th right one.
Does anyone know if my ome shocks will be a straight swap from the swb to the lwb?

[Polar_Bear]

yeah your shocks and struts will swap straight over

[bugden23]

I have a lwb that i have turned into a mini tourer,

its got the front and rear air lockers, 2" lift, rhino racks, safari snorkel, ARB bullbar and dual battery set up with power outlets in the boot for the fridge. its running slightly larger tires but bigger ones would be nice.

Just a quick question though, anyone know who would fit a bigger fuel tank ? something between 80 - 100 litres would be nice

[cj]

Just a quick question though, anyone know who would fit a bigger fuel tank ? something between 80 - 100 litres would be nice

The only place that offers one is Brown Davis in Melbourne.

[rodw]

I have a 92 LWB Tourer that I drive to work every day evolving here: http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... pic&t=1074

It might give you some ideas on how to maximise storage space.
I have decided to stick with 29" tyres so as not to worry about gearing and have a set of swampers to go on it and will do a 2" body lift in the next couple of weeks after which I will fit rock sliders.

Still to come: full length skid plate, diff drop brackets, rear locker, (maybe a front locker later), Roof rack (for second spare, 2 jerry cans, 4wd mat and OzTent).

If anybody knows a model number for the tank from Brown and Davis please let me know. When I rang them, he said the Zook tanks were in a bit of a mess after an employee who looked after tham all left and he did not know which fitted what!

[qld zook]

Thanks for that rodw, i cant see the pictures unfortunatly but the right ups pretty informative.
This right here is about my aim for the project

it from here http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,44150.0.html if anyone is interested.

[Toecutta]

That looks a lot like my one, A LWB with EFI an ARB winch bar, snorkel, 6" Calmini and 255/70 R16 on GV rims, It has roof racks and the like and

I think the 31" is spot on, It doesnt gear them up to much that you dont use 5th and i found it heaps more comfortable than a two door.

PS You used to have a GV didnt you? I did and have down sized to the LWB Vit and found it has more room inside!.

[qld zook]

Nope no gv just the soon to be ex owner of a 91 swb vit.

[bugden23]

Heres a pic of my lwb in Sundown national park near stanthorpe, could use a bigger set of tyres though


http://www.nbs4x4club.com/forum/download.php?id=2617

[rodw]

qld zook, I put up some photos here:
http://www.suzuki-forums.com/vbpicgalle ... iew&g=1192
You might need to register at auzookers to see pics. Well worth dooing and check out a few of the rigs. (I like Royce's rock sliders!)

[Toecutta]

Here is a pic of mine, works well on long trips, and the roof lights come off easy, with a plug for the wiring.

[SuzukiDeano]

Here is a pic of mine, works well on long trips, and the roof lights come off easy, with a plug for the wiring.

Love ya truck mate, Just bought a 92 LWB that I'm hoping to over time build up to look like yours.

[bugden23]

here's my mini tourer, not as full on as the last one but still pretty good. Dual ARB locked, 2" lift, snorkle, dual battery, rhino racks, ARB front bar.

Just a question for Toecutta. Those tyres look pretty full on, do u have new transfter gears ? if so where did u get them, how much, and do they affect on road handling (do they reduce high range)

[Toecutta]

They are about a 31" and I dont have lowrange gears for it, but I dont really notice it much. It does about 3000 rpm at 100kms. It has extractors, a 2" system and a cam so it powers along nicely.

I have been looking but as yet every set of gears I can find only reduce lowrange on the Vitaras. A mate just got some Trail Tough gears for a SWB and they are great, and on sale at the moment for $599 USD

[SuzukiDeano]

Heres my new Vitara the day after I bought it. Only mod so far is some Hankook all-terrains. But planning on doing the usual lift, rubber, bar and winch.