Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G'day all,

Is a SWB TOO short for rock crawling? is it too inclined to go end over end on hills ?

the reason I ask is I have been building a SWB Defender (currently 91" long, no spring lift, plan 2" lift so would end up been 90" long). After going to the woodpecker challenge (I want to compete in my rig) I believe a SWB is too short. The Blue GQ SWB almost went over in stage II and patrols are about 94" long (I think), so my 90" would go over for sure. I have built it with a lower centre of gravity, BUT I think it would be too short.

I know 100" is that magic number of happy medium but would it be worth it?? I would mount the motor further back (more or less push the front diff forward) and lower giving an even better centre of gravity.

Anyway I would like to hear about people who have bought SWB vehicles and mad the wheelbase longer and what length their rig is now.

DAS wrote:G'day all,

Is a SWB TOO short for rock crawling? is it too inclined to go end over end on hills ?

the reason I ask is I have been building a SWB Defender (currently 91" long, no spring lift, plan 2" lift so would end up been 90" long). After going to the woodpecker challenge (I want to compete in my rig) I believe a SWB is too short. The Blue GQ SWB almost went over in stage II and patrols are about 94" long (I think), so my 90" would go over for sure. I have built it with a lower centre of gravity, BUT I think it would be too short.

I know 100" is that magic number of happy medium but would it be worth it?? I would mount the motor further back (more or less push the front diff forward) and lower giving an even better centre of gravity.

Anyway I would like to hear about people who have bought SWB vehicles and mad the wheelbase longer and what length their rig is now.

I drove my zook off all those steps no problems at all, it is only 87 inches.


I am going to stretch mine to about 100 inches. It should climb alot better at that length.

DAS wrote:Anyway I would like to hear about people who have bought SWB vehicles and mad the wheelbase longer and what length their rig is now.

My short Maverick is at about 100" now. I haven't driven it at that length, still have to put it all back together, but it has been at about 98" for the last 12 months, much easier to drive hard than at standard length.....

Mine is now 101" And it is so much more stable climbing and descending. The extra 10" or so width helps aswell

mickbj42 wrote:I drove my zook off all those steps no problems at all, it is only 87 inches.


I am going to stretch mine to about 100 inches. It should climb alot better at that length.

So you feel 87" is too short ? How high is your truck and what size tyres?

Shorty 40

Mine is now 101" And it is so much more stable climbing and descending. The extra 10" or so width helps aswell

The width isn't the issue with my rig, its wide enough, just concerned with length.

87 is an unusual length for a zuk... The Vitara is 86" and longer than a SWB sierra so what's already been done?

My Disco is at 101" (rear axle pushed back a bit), now from 100", that's a 1% increase, and the effect IS 1% on driving... ...BUT, i did drive a nice D-90 on a 100m section that my Disco had NOT problems with, where I felt the "up" and "downs" were a wee bit less stable and the front tires were not well planted on the climbs (his gearing is 4.11s, mine 4.7)...a mate in a D110 drove the section and was having clearence problems, that is when I was happy that I had the "just right" WB...

Its just like Goldilocks...not too hot, not too cold...just right!

I did have a Hybrid 90", should have built it to 100".

Too short

I was running 37 boggers, got some 39.5 IROKs on the way to shop!

My zook is set up real low.

I think 100 is a good length, that what i am aiming for with mine.