Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey just wondering if anyone eather has a link to a site or sumthing with all the good and bad points

or if they could post please?
thanks

some good reasons for lwb:
more internal storage space
better in steep sections
better access to rear seats
can be lifted higher with less change to driveshaft angles
can fit more long range tanks/lpg tanks under neath

some good reasons for swb:
slightly more maneuvrable
better ramp over clearance

N*A*M wrote:some good reasons for lwb:
more internal storage space
better in steep sections
better access to rear seats
can be lifted higher with less change to driveshaft angles
can fit more long range tanks/lpg tanks under neath

some good reasons for swb:
slightly more maneuvrable
better ramp over clearance

A couple more pro SWB:

Cheaper to run (less weight)
Better acceleration in traffic

Main thing is stability for LWB versus manoeverability for SWB.

You'll find on any day out there's gonna be something a LWB gets through because it's a LWB and something a SWB gets through because it's a SWB.

Think about how you're gonna use it before you decide. LWB Make better tourers and SWB better mudpigs and rockhoppers.

SWB's are more scary...

I would suggest that it is all about running the optimum size tyres for the length of the wheelbase.

andy_noble wrote:I would suggest that it is all about running the optimum size tyres for the length of the wheelbase.

Agreed, 35's look good on a SWB and work well in most situations, but on a LWB thy don't stand out all that much.

MQ080 wrote:Agreed, 35's look good on a SWB and work well in most situations, but on a LWB thy don't stand out all that much.

... because what your tires look like is all important over what works..

have a look at what there is more of in comps. IMHO LWB

I prefered the LWB for off road 90%. The 10% was the times I had trouble turning around a tree or something.
You can lift a LWB easier and cheaper with less hassles.
A shorty is a pain if you want to bring mates.
A shorty drives very differently (bad) off road loaded with people (Scarey).
It is hard to carry gear in a shorty. The back seat isn't very accessable.
The LWB drives smoother on road, less bumpy but it is a pain when it comes time to park compared to the shorty.

You definitley feel much less likey to roll over in a LWB.

bogged wrote:

MQ080 wrote:Agreed, 35's look good on a SWB and work well in most situations, but on a LWB thy don't stand out all that much.

... because what your tires look like is all important over what works..

Hell yeah dont you know anything?

Red_Zook wrote:Hell yeah dont your know anything?

I can spell..

bogged wrote:

Red_Zook wrote:Hell yeah dont your know anything?

I can spell..

A point of possible interest in this lwb v swb discussion:
Some years ago a couple of Hilux owners in Iceland did a comparison test of their trucks. The vehicles were idendical in every way, except that one was a foot longer than the other. In the snow, which is what four wheeling is mostly about in Iceland, the longer Hilux drove in circles around the shorter one! The difference in performace was said to be just about unbelievable, and swapping drivers made no difference.

This was in snow of course, may not apply in other circumstances.

Back then I had a CJ5 with 33" MTs and NoSpin rear. It had a tendency, to say the least, to dig down its rear and sit on its ass, stuck.
Maybe just my inferior driving skills.


Ingthorsson.

Beastmavster wrote:



Think about how you're gonna use it before you decide. LWB Make better tourers and SWB better mudpigs and rockhoppers.

Lwb would make a better rockhopper anyday

MQ080 wrote:

andy_noble wrote:I would suggest that it is all about running the optimum size tyres for the length of the wheelbase.

Agreed, 35's look good on a SWB and work well in most situations, but on a LWB thy don't stand out all that much.

35s on a SWB would be just plain scarry

ingthorsson wrote:A point of possible interest in this lwb v swb discussion:
Some years ago a couple of Hilux owners in Iceland did a comparison test of their trucks. The vehicles were idendical in every way, except that one was a foot longer than the other. In the snow, which is what four wheeling is mostly about in Iceland, the longer Hilux drove in circles around the shorter one! The difference in performace was said to be just about unbelievable, and swapping drivers made no difference.

This was in snow of course, may not apply in other circumstances.

Back then I had a CJ5 with 33" MTs and NoSpin rear. It had a tendency, to say the least, to dig down its rear and sit on its ass, stuck.
Maybe just my inferior driving skills.
Ingthorsson.

Any photos of the area you wheel in? Always good to see other countries playing..

verry interesting

i got a LWB GQ

pics can be found at www.pcmodware.com/car

cheak out the stuff at appin heh

i got 31's on the car now i need 35's asap i think the 31's look small and make rockhopping real dificult some times

Nah, nothing scary about a swb on 35s if its properly built.
Check out this early bronco on 38s:

http://www.4x4offroads.com/4x4-ford-bronco-1974.html

The most monstrous bobtail Bronco ever built in Iceland, as far as I know, had, or has, a 460cid engine, Unimog axles and 44" tires.
If ever I find pictures of it, I´ll post ´em!

As to pictures from Snow-wheeling in Iceland, the same site, almost, has some good ones:

http://www.4x4offroads.com/glacier-picture.html

Punch around on that site to view some very nice trucks, and action.

Ingthorsson.

ingthorsson wrote:As to pictures from Snow-wheeling in Iceland, the same site, almost, has some good ones:

http://www.4x4offroads.com/glacier-picture.html

Jackaroo on 38's ! SWEET!

Okay then after reading a few of the posts and seeing the zook fellow say 35's on a SWB would be scary,

What is considered SWB and What is considered LWB, are we saying something like under and over 100 inches???

i asked the same qustion a while ago. in the end it came down to what i could find in great nick. i bought a swb. I would much rather a Lwb for offroadiing. i hate the feeling i get when it starts rocking on a very steep incline and one of the rears start digging.
But its a compromise whicheva way you go. I bought the best i could find and its a swb and i can live with that

cheers

awsome pics ingthorsson

I would rather have my shorty. Its perfect for what I do as its only for my girlfriend and I, we spend around a month or so touring in it quite comfortably with just a roof rack as extra space. I have 35's and a 5" spring lift on it and I dont find it scary at all, when I go over gutters and roundabouts it feels incredibly stable still...I dont take it off road so I wouldnt know about that . As said before its all about what you want to use it for, if you have a family or alot of crap then get a LWB...if you want to look uber cool with big tyres then get a SWB

What is LWB?

The "LWB" Sierra is about the same wheelbase as a "SWB" GQ Patrol give or take 2 inches.


This is a topic that's been done to death many times before with no real answer. The optimum range for wheelbase for the type of 4wding you do is gonna vary a lot.

Yeah for steep climbs I'd prefer more wheelbase - but then again I know of plenty of tracks where you can get in with a shorty and the LWB guys have to bypass that section.... or places where the LWB guys end up with damage that the shorties dont get.

Then again - the LWB guys would see it the other way - they bypass some of the more technical tight stuff to have a go at the big climbs the shorty guys dont want to.

You see time and time again that LWB get stuck where shorties dont and vice versa.

Except for steep climbs the SWB generally beat the LWB offroad in more places. So it really levels out and you buy the one that you think will suit you and your needs/family situation.

I have no kids and a wife who wont come in the 4by for offroading. Heaps of room for one passenger - and most people have their own rig to play in anyway.

It's heaps more room than a lux after all....

And around town - heaps of room for the two of us and the dogs, with luggage space to spare.


If it comes down to me deciding I won't do a climb because I think it's gonna be too dangerous in the shorty I'll go play somewhere else. Or approach it really gently if I think I can do it but know there's some small risk involved if something goes wrong.

Risk is a part of our sport and part of the challenge after all. As adults in a motor sport we all have to take some factor of risk into account.

The more competent your rig, the worse the consequences when it all goes wrong as you look for harder trails for the challenge.


What's dangerous would also vary based on things like how much travel you've got, how many lockers you've got, what gearing, what tyres, etc etc.



Another really important thing is what line you can approach it on.

Many times an inch or two of line can make the difference between safety and danger, success and failure. For that kind of stuff the shorty wins hands down based on it's manoueverability. The extra couple of feet can make it pretty hard to keep both ends out of the ruts simultaneously, expecially with a few turns on the track.

All in all - it's a win win situation....... no matter what you choose.

shorties probly not as stable but heaps more fun to drive

how about starting off with a SWB and then lengthening the wheel base and possibly the track?

then you have all the pros of a SWB without the cons!

the biggest thing I've found with the difference between SWB - LWB is ride comfort. the further you sit from the axles the more comfortable the ride. My LWB Sierra when stock rode better than a similar stock SWB because of the wheelbase difference and the same with my LWB GQ compared to a SWB GQ

shorty_f0rty wrote:how about starting off with a SWB and then lengthening the wheel base and possibly the track?

then you have all the pros of a SWB without the cons!

thats what i did started with 79.9" and ended up with 103" makes a huge difference i can tackle stuff i would never dreamed of in a shorty

ZOOK60 wrote:

shorty_f0rty wrote:how about starting off with a SWB and then lengthening the wheel base and possibly the track?

then you have all the pros of a SWB without the cons!

thats what i did started with 79.9" and ended up with 103" makes a huge difference i can tackle stuff i would never dreamed of in a shorty

with that said what would be a the recommended wheelbase?

i've added 5" to my wb and can really tell the difference!

ive added about 5 to mine too noticed a big increase in stabilty

I thought the perfect balance was between the LWB and SWB so I bought a Rangie. The Rangies wheel base is 150mm longer than the SWB Patrol with 4 doors instead of 2. Ok it may not be as strong as the Patrol but it is an option.