vitara or sierra ute/ wagon

[kranked_dirt]

G'day guys, have been looking through the zook section over the last few weeks; am thinking of selling the 40 series and picking up either a LWB sierra or LWB vitara. I want something capable off-road - doesnt have to be a crawler just a good trail truck. What i had in mind was chopping off one of the 2 after the front doors and getting a tube tray/ cage fabbed up to make it into a wagon. (have a look at my crappy paint picture to get an idea of what im talking about.) Would only run 31inch tires, maybe 33s at the most. I had a look at pat callinan's zook, im looking at something like that but a wagon back insted of the ute and have a removable canvas cover for the back.

What do you guys think? I want to do this on a tight budget as well and still retain some economy (the 40 is killing me lol), and be able to throw all my caming stuff in the back.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers,
Adam

[nicbeer]

If u only want mild trail stuff. the Vit would be good and be more comfy and better on fuel.

31-33 is about max on the vit cv's anyway.

Also finding a Lwb may be easyier in a vit then a Sierra.

cheers

[ed oorklep]

Have a look here: http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=8808.0 some-one doing something like that to a vitara

[kranked_dirt]

thanks guys, heres what i want to do, not quite as extreme though... this thing it one of the nicest ive seen...

1984 toyota 2.4 liter 2LT turbo diesel motor
1984 toyota 5 speed tranny, t-case

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=35.75

[kranked_dirt]

one more...

[stumped]

that's pretty hot.. but it's a sierra, not a vit

[grimbo]

it was also a very $$$$ buildup

[kranked_dirt]

haha sorry *sierra* lol can tell im new to the whole suzuki scean.

Grimbo: yeah it looks like a very $$$$ buildup but if i could do something similar on the cheap i would be stoaked. ie smaller rubber, mild suspension work, stock engine... maybe upgrade depending on cost.

cheers guys.

[sierrajim]

What you need to work out is how much you want to spend and what sort of driving you want to do.

Vitara as stock is more comfortable than a sierra

Vitara is more powerful

Vitara has more space

Vitara easier to find in better nic

Vitara is easier to find in LWB

Vitara has IFS

If you want something to bash the crapper out of, don't buy a Vitara. Sure you can do a live axle swap, ute chop, semi exo etc but this would not be a cheap build.

Possum Hunter from here did a ute chop on his Vit last year, SWB soft top originally, looked great but he got sick of busting CV joints. This vehicle is destined to be rather wild come this time next year

[kranked_dirt]

Thanks for the replies guys. Sierra jim: Comfort doesnt really play a part in it, i drive a 40 with no padding left on the drivers seat but from what you say the vitara sounds good in all area except for the IFS and would probably be harder to chop into a ute than a Sierra.

Does anyone know what models the Sierra came out in LWB models??

Cheers, adam

[muppet_man67]

Thanks for the replies guys. Sierra jim: Comfort doesnt really play a part in it, i drive a 40 with no padding left on the drivers seat but from what you say the vitara sounds good in all area except for the IFS and would probably be harder to chop into a ute than a Sierra.

Does anyone know what models the Sierra came out in LWB models??

Cheers, adam

1liter, 1980-84, Narrowtrack 85-87, widetrack 88-89. (I havnt heard of a later model widetrack lwb then this) After that Marutis otherwise known as stockmans. 1 liter engine, some have 4sp some have 5sp gearboxes. diffs are the width of widetracks however are narrowtrack size.

[droopypete]

Does anyone know what models the Sierra came out in LWB models??

Cheers, adam

1 litre
1.3 litre
narrow track
and wide track
ute and hard body.
Peter.