Hey guys, just picked up a 2003 4 door Tracker myself. One owner, 84k miles, clean as a pin. Been ordering parts for it for a month, but just had back surgery in November, so lot's of packages from Low Range Offroad sitting around right now. Love driving it, but the little 205/75/15 are driving me nuts. Ordered the OME springs and spacers and struts so hopefully I can fit 235/75/15s under it. I'll post some pictures after the lift and tires go on. Sending the front and gas tank skid plates out next week for double coated industrial powder coating. Going flat black. Just had a class 3 hitch installed too. Was surprised how much it hangs down. Hope the gas tank skid plate will work with the hitch. Installed a new Alpine stereo and Infinity speakers with a little amp. The stock stereo and speakers were shot. Changed out all the fluids, hoses and belts and switched the engine over to semi-synthetic and the trans and diffs to synthetic. I ordered the Aisin Hubs from LRO, not that all hubs won't fail at some point, but I've had/seen 2 Warn hubs on two separate vehicles fail in really bad spots. Believe it or not, we did a field repair on one with a cut down Coors Light can! :jumping: Warn covered the failed parts under warranty to their credit, but thought I'd try the Aisin hubs because I've never seen an Aisin hub fail on a Toyota. I've searched high and low, wish I could find a bug shield for it and a winch bumper. Ordered a Lock=right locker for the rear, maybe I won't need the winch........??????? Doesn't seem like there is much aftermarket support for the 1999-2005 Trackers/Vitaras.
Giving new life to my little Chevy Tracker (Vitara)
- Thread starter BigBamBoo
- Start date
JCMatthews, just food for thought, but these vehicles are very narrow, and do not respond well to evasive maneuvers (can you say ROLLOVER?). Just had an ex-step daughter total a Honda civic, so protecting teenage drivers is fresh on my mind. Plus my dad was a drivers education instructor which a lot of rubbed off on me. Just my .02 cents worth. I love my daughters and step daughter, but putting them in something that can be kinda tip=over=ish would scare me. My daughters will start learning to drive in the Tracker (well at least my oldest) but it will be on dirt roads, back roads, and trails.
Sounds like a nice rig. Is it a 4cyl or 6cyl.? With the OME springs and adding spacers, you should have no problem fitting 235's on it.
I only have the OME springs on mine and have a solid inch at full lock between finders and frame with my 215's. So you should be fine.
I am hesitant to put them in my rig as I don't want to lose power and mileage. Part of the reason why I only put the front skid plate on it as well...loading down these little rigs with hundreds of pounds of armor plus bigger tires really saps the life out of them. To get tha back your now looking at gears.
I have been told with my 2dr, that the 235's are a bit easier on the power loss as it is lighter then the 4dr. But then again, I have added the hard top so ???
I still might try it. My local tire shop has 5 BFG KO2's that they will give me a good deal on.....hmmm.
Post up some pics of your rig when you get it all done.
I only have the OME springs on mine and have a solid inch at full lock between finders and frame with my 215's. So you should be fine.
I am hesitant to put them in my rig as I don't want to lose power and mileage. Part of the reason why I only put the front skid plate on it as well...loading down these little rigs with hundreds of pounds of armor plus bigger tires really saps the life out of them. To get tha back your now looking at gears.
I have been told with my 2dr, that the 235's are a bit easier on the power loss as it is lighter then the 4dr. But then again, I have added the hard top so ???
I still might try it. My local tire shop has 5 BFG KO2's that they will give me a good deal on.....hmmm.
Post up some pics of your rig when you get it all done.
BigBamBamboo,
Mine has the 4cyl with a 5 speed. Not sure about the gears, I think from what I've read that they are 4.6xxxx......something. At idle, In 1st gear, I can walk next to it without being in 4 low. This thing has to be a great trail rig with the stock drive train and a locker. If not. There are really low transfer case gears out there. But I'm just going to be running forest roads and fire roads in the mountain, sand at the beach at the lake, and minor stuff. Not into the rock crawling scene. I'm looking at the Cooper STS for tires. Seem aggressive and very durable without the road noise of KOs or MTs.
Mine has the 4cyl with a 5 speed. Not sure about the gears, I think from what I've read that they are 4.6xxxx......something. At idle, In 1st gear, I can walk next to it without being in 4 low. This thing has to be a great trail rig with the stock drive train and a locker. If not. There are really low transfer case gears out there. But I'm just going to be running forest roads and fire roads in the mountain, sand at the beach at the lake, and minor stuff. Not into the rock crawling scene. I'm looking at the Cooper STS for tires. Seem aggressive and very durable without the road noise of KOs or MTs.
The Gen 2 (1999-2005) Tracker/Vitara/Grand Vitara's came with 4.62 (for 5 spd) or 4.88 (for A/T) gears. There are a few 1999 and maybe 2000's 2dr models that had the 1.6L engine and those came with 5.12 gears. Those are pretty rare and were phased out in favor of the 2.0L "big block" 4cyl.
What is common is to swap out the third members for the 1998 and older models with the 5.12 gears to gain back some mechanical advantage with bigger tires. I have thought about doing that with my little rig and adding ARB lockers as well. But then I stop and think about putting another $4000-5000 into a rig that is only worth $3500-4000.
I just saw that Jeep in bring out their redesigned Compass in a Trailhawk version with a low range transfer case and E-locker rear diff. I am going to check that out. I hate to say "game changer", but there is currently no other compact SUV in the US market with a true low range transfer case. That is the reason I have kept my little Tracker.
I like having a small, off road capable rig that get 24-26 mpg.
What is common is to swap out the third members for the 1998 and older models with the 5.12 gears to gain back some mechanical advantage with bigger tires. I have thought about doing that with my little rig and adding ARB lockers as well. But then I stop and think about putting another $4000-5000 into a rig that is only worth $3500-4000.
I just saw that Jeep in bring out their redesigned Compass in a Trailhawk version with a low range transfer case and E-locker rear diff. I am going to check that out. I hate to say "game changer", but there is currently no other compact SUV in the US market with a true low range transfer case. That is the reason I have kept my little Tracker.
I like having a small, off road capable rig that get 24-26 mpg.
Well...got the snorkel installed (FTS brand). Not overly impressed with the quality. It is fiberglass and feels very flimsy. Plus the paint on it chips VERY easily. So not sure how it is going to hold up in wild.
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