UK Suzuki Jimny

[Jersey4x4]

Hamperd by lack of funds and no more holidays left

But next trip is to the lake district in the UK but may wait till I have the cruiser first as its close to 8 hours drive...

We shall see great Jim btw graynomad but it is a shame they are just too small... Great little off roaders for a hack around the local lanes or a pay and play site.... Nothing beats them

 

[graynomad]

shame they are just too small

Yes, great little cars and very capable but I'm about to sell ours, I've gone back to a Landcruiser (75-series cab chassis) so I can build a decent camper body for long trips.

 

[Safarisan]

Hi Jersey4x4. We got our jimny in December 2012 and changed the tyres to goodyear wrangler atsa's. Of the standard size. We promptly took it up Sani Pass from Kwazulu Natal to Lesotho and a little way beyond to the Black Mountain Pass. Sani tops out at 2946m and Black Mountain is over 10000m. The jimny didn't even break a sweat. In April we took it to Itala Game Reserve in Zululand where we drove the Bivane Trail coming face to face with a beautiful leopard, black rhino and a very grumpy herd of elephant. They look ginormous from a jimny, especially when they're charging you! The jimny towed our small offroad trailer easily and I'll try post some pics. I'm a professional 4x4 instructor and I'm seriously impressed with the little trucklet. It's yet to diappoint, even after 52000km's in 10 months on all sorts of terrain. It's a nippy economical commuter and a little tiger off road. Too cool!

 

[Jersey4x4]

Haven't been on here in a while... I have been busy however

First i installed four WIPACS on the roof rack these are brilliant for how cheap they are

I didn't like the way the roof rack was mounted it was way to high and not secure enough (you could lift it off by hand pretty easily even when the clamps where fully tight) so i redesigned and made some new clamps to secure it without the need for the cross bars making it about 70mm lower!

while i had the rack off i decided to paint it with stone chip... Stone chip is brilliant stuff would really recommend it as its really easy stuff to paint with and its tough stuff that dose not chip rather smudges so its brilliant for roof racks that get loads of drag damage

As its thick stuff its best to warm it up first by sticking it in a jug of boiling water for about 5 mins

It took almost 3 cans (which is 1.5liters of paint) to completely cover the rack and 2 nights but i finally got every inch painted

I also took the time to tidy up some shocking wiring with the help of some wiring conduit

Thats all for now....

JJ

 

[graynomad]

The rack looks much better with the paint and it now looks like it's part of the car, not stuck on top up in the air.

Nice job.

 

[Jersey4x4]

Thanks a lot it should be a lot more secure now too

 

[SRN]

Man I love these Jimny's. Saw a ton of them down in Australia last month, wish I could get one to the US. Oh well, I'll just keep my '86 running I guess.

 

[stioc]

Awesome! I love Jimnys. Total unobtainium here in the U.S., but I'd love one.

- Andy

x2 - you have a great little truck there. It's too bad we don't get them here but even if we did they probably wouldn't sell very much because the general population would still buy the Ford Edge, Acura MDX etc - which is why we don't get the Jimnys here in the first place Saw them in Tokyo and Tahiti and thought they were cool little trucks!

This picture captures so much detail. It could be part of the Jimny's marketing material. Now how did you fit all those friends in your Jimny? :coffeedrink:

 

[elrod]

I plan on buying a jimny as an exploration/adventure vehicle in the near future and will also have a similar set up to you graynomad. Think it's a very well thought out and efficient use of space. That shelter is a nice addition I'm thinking perfect to roll a swag out underneath.

I have had a jimny in the past and I must say i don't know what all the fuss is about with people having comfort issues. I do ride a motorcycle on long distance trips though and I found the jimny is still more comfortable than any motorcycle over a long distance drive.

In my opinion any attempt to enhance a jimny's offroad ability comes at the expense of on road comfort. Lifting the jimny which is already too tall for it's short wheel base is going to effect it's balance and ride comfort negatively and adding all terrain tires is not worth the road noise if you're doing any more than 50% road driving. Additionally adding taller tires is also going to make the jimny sluggish. A good comparison is go and test drive a stock jimny after you've modified yours and I'll bet you find the stock jimny is far more comfortable to drive on the road.

The great thing about the little jimny is that it doesn't need any modifications to make it as good as any full size 4x4 on the market. Unless you plan to use the jimny as a dedicated offroader and actively search for the most extreme 4x4 challenges nature can throw your way it will go almost anywhere a 4x4 adventure vehicle needs to straight from the show room, even on standard passenger tires! The reason I say almost is there's one exception and that is water crossings. The jimny is so light that it has a tendency to float away when things become deep where heavier 4x4s can continue on unfazed.

Totally stock jimny's doing cape york!

 

[graynomad]

That shelter is a nice addition I'm thinking perfect to roll a swag out underneath.

Yes that's the idea, I use my backpacking tent with entrance facing into the shelter so I have a nice little enclave.

The jimny is so light that it has a tendency to float away when things become deep where heavier 4x4s can continue on unfazed.

There is that Not that I've done any real crossings in mine but I would be pretty worried, and it's all a nice interior so you would be loath to open the doors to stop it floating. I prefer vinyl floors.

EDIT: Just noticed the video, I'll have a look.

 

[Jersey4x4]

Hi all!

Have not been on here in a while sorry for not replying!

Just thought i would catch you all up on my latest activity

Since i painted the roof rack i installed a side Awning...

Installed a T-Max Split Charge System...

Installed a cheap Rear LED Work light...

Installed a better CB Radio, with more switches and features simply because i love that stuff!

And a PA Speaker!

And to finish it all off....

A new set of BFG KM2s!

And then it was all packed up for a Weekend Exped

Playing the Role of Expedition Safety Supervisor for a Duke Of Edinburgh Expedition

 

[Jersey4x4]

Now looking into a HAM Radio license for great comms range

 

[Teadrinker]

Thanks for the tip about stone chip - I'll give it a go on my rusting bike rack. Enjoying following your mods and adventures - keep it coming

 

[africanexpat]

Wow Jersey,just love your Jimny and the mods you have done.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jersey4x4]

Yes stonechip is brilliant stuff I have done underneath my arches too

Thanks all got another D of E exped on the first of march so will update you then