ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki Grand Vitara, Vitara, Chevy Tracker (Gen. 2 Platform) 1999-2005 => Topic started by: Maroon Monsoon on July 02, 2006, 12:43:07 AM
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would like people's opinions about them especially if they have them and pics with tire size and suspension lift height so I can have an idea of what they look like.. wondering about the quality and the looks. would like the clearance, beastly looks (I hope) and don't feel like cutting up a nice clean zuk. thanks
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anyone have a body lift on a 2nd gen at all?
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heres everything you'd ever want to know about the 2 inch body lift:
http://www.off-road.com/suzuki/tech/vitara_lift/
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thanks, I think I've seen that before. I am really leaning twards not wanting a body lift but wanted to see some people's rides with it so I could see what it looks like
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see this: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2143213/2
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yea, from those angles it just looks like a big suspension lift. doesn't look too bad
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It is a good setup, but me wants to put a bodylift of 3" and 1/2" coilspacer to have 6 " of lift for install 32" tires!!! with a little trim!!!
a example! : http://www.offroading.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1427
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=11434.15
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yea, I think I would only go 2 inches max body lift on anything. if I were to body lift my zuk I'd prefer a 1 inch actually. pretty sure I won't put one on but I thought I'd look into it before shutting out the idea
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Question, while we're on the subject. When you do the body lift you end up having a gap between the body and the bumpers right? How do you go about moving the bumpers afterwards?
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you modifie the bumper!! see this :
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2143213/2
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don't know about for zuks but many body lift kits come with bumper relocation brackets. that's how it was an my friends 3 inch body lift for his nissan hard body (looks rediculous to have that much body lift on that truck since the body was already 2 inches more off the frame than a pathfinder)
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Question, while we're on the subject. When you do the body lift you end up having a gap between the body and the bumpers right? How do you go about moving the bumpers afterwards?
For the front I just used 2" box tubing and spaced the bumper up. In the back I ended up removeing the steel bumper under the plastic cover which I'm ok with as I have a Calmini steel tube hitch bumper.
George
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I've got the 2" body lift on my vitara ('96 trackick) i'm pretty much pleased of it, gives more room for bigger tires.
The brackets for the rear bumper were cut in half and extended 2" aswell, front bumper was replaced with a custom winchbumper.
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or you just keep the plastic off, paint the metal black and make covers out of galvanized metal for the rear vents (although I'm still waiting, hoping, looking for help in making my own custom bumpers. Would love it if Shrockworks modified their Sidekick bumper for the next generation vehicles.)
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jeff, any pics of how the back end looks? thanks
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jeff, any pics of how the back end looks? thanks
Are you asking Jeff for pics of his rear :o :-X ;D
George
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lol, yea, pics of the rear of his truck... geeze. I was actually wondering if it would sound like that. lol
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jeff, any pics of how the back end looks? thanks
Here you go, before the bigger tires, snorkel and lights up front.
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interesting about the rear vents, mine are just left as is, how necessary to cover these is it? i know they need to be watched and cleaned, also does your steering extension seem a little soft cause of the design? basically can be wiggled around against the bushing?
i'll post of some updated pics of mine really soon, no skins! swampers are on order and should be done no later than next weekend! i'll wait till then to post.. still need to address my console, the rubber boot gets in the way so i'm gonna just pick up something aftermarket..
since the bl has only been on for about 50km i can't say much about it yet, i'm sure it will be fine.
an fyi; my bolts with the kit were NOT long enough for the front mounts...
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did you make those covers to conceal the uglyness underneath? they look really good. I can't believe how much that does not look like a body lift. looks real good. a very good looking body lift. on most vehicles body lifts look ugly, not on these if you stay 2 inches or less I guess
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Jeff, do you have a website or anything with more pictures of those bumpers?
rear vents...? ???
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Jeff, do you have a website or anything with more pictures of those bumpers?
rear vents...? ???
The rear vents are uncovered when you take the plastic off the rear. I didn't like them exposed, so bought some galvanzied steel at Home Depot, made a pattern, and cut. Used some 1/4 or so nylon spacers to keep the metal above the little rubber flaps of the vent and screwed them on (after I painted with black hammerite, which also covered the under-bumpers front and back.)
I've got various photos (not real up to date, need to get on it) here: http://homepage.mac.com/jeffryscott/PhotoAlbum18.html
play around and you can see the transition of the Zuki. I'll try to update it more with some current photos (lights, snorkel, 245's) when I get home from work tonight. I wanted to get this vehicle as capable as my Land Rover I sold (gas hog) and I'm pretty happy with what I've got ...
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yea dude, those covers look really really nice. good work. you should fab them up and sell them on here. digger and that other dude are selling coil spacer kits fast enough they seem to have trouble with the demand. with a product like that people can more easily make a custum rear bumper or do what you did without having uglyness there.
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Okay, I guess my question was which rear vents and what do they do? ???
What I'd like to do with our GV is pull all of the cladding off and have it Rhino Lined on all the portions that it covered. Probably the bumpers too. Rust proof. :)
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Okay, I guess my question was which rear vents and what do they do? ???
What I'd like to do with our GV is pull all of the cladding off and have it Rhino Lined on all the portions that it covered. Probably the bumpers too. Rust proof. :)
Ok, now I understand more clearly - in the picture of my truck, right below the gas tank fill tube cover, you'll see the black metal - under that are four interior vents on both sides. They are normally covered up by the plastic molding of the back bumper fascia. It looks funny with them uncovered - so, I two sheets of sheet metal, 18x24 or something, and held it up to what needed to be covered, traced it with a sharpie, then cut. Pretty simple, up close it is not terribly well done, but it does the job and someday, I'd like to redo them to fix the flaws.
On the Grand's, if you take the cladding off, you'll have all sorts of holes on the body where it attaches.
Still want somebody like Shrock to come up with front and rear solutions for our trucks ... that sidekick front bumper is killer.
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the vents regulate the cabin air basically and do look ugly as i'll be showing soon enough, i'll put a close up of the area.
now, i really need to know what you guys who have this BL installed have to say about the steering extension setup. does it seem a bit sloppy????? mine does, it has some play but drives just fine.
ended up buying a cheapa$$ aftermarket shift boot, i guess it looks ok, i'll include in pics soon to come.
thanks!
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the vents regulate the cabin air basically and do look ugly as i'll be showing soon enough, i'll put a close up of the area.
now, i really need to know what you guys who have this BL installed have to say about the steering extension setup. does it seem a bit sloppy????? mine does, it has some play but drives just fine.
ended up buying a cheapa$$ aftermarket shift boot, i guess it looks ok, i'll include in pics soon to come.
thanks!
I never installed the steering extension. Steering never binded up, so never bother. Feels good, responsive and all that. I never changed the boot either. It is a little bit stiffer to switch into 4wd, and it created an annoying rattle.
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Another question when u guys did the Body Lift did u notice a big difference in tippyness??
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Another question when u guys did the Body Lift did u notice a big difference in tippyness??
I was wondering that too. on my friends nissan hard body he didn't notice a difference at all with a 3 inch body lift but it's a pickup so not as much weight up high on the body as a zuk
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i myself didnt notice any difference, after all, the body on a trackick isnt that heavy is it...
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interesting about the steering being fine without the extension..., nice to know if mine f's up i'll remove... anybody else with an opinion out there??? just wanna be sure this setup is SAFE as it's my dd.
my shift boot was in the way so i just bought a grey aftermarket boot, it would barely go into 2, 4 & R. the 4x4 lever was fine as i simply left some of the rubber boot under the plastic console.
jdmcrx...... come out wheeling again and you'll see how tippy it is! or isn't. i don't have wheel spacers yet and will be putting my swampers on this weekend as they're sitting in my apt now! also if you need some mud tires better than what you got now you can have mine for dirt cheap, they're going in the garbage soon though as i have no space for them.
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interesting about the steering being fine without the extension..., nice to know if mine f's up i'll remove... anybody else with an opinion out there??? just wanna be sure this setup is SAFE as it's my dd.
my shift boot was in the way so i just bought a grey aftermarket boot, it would barely go into 2, 4 & R. the 4x4 lever was fine as i simply left some of the rubber boot under the plastic console.
jdmcrx...... come out wheeling again and you'll see how tippy it is! or isn't. i don't have wheel spacers yet and will be putting my swampers on this weekend as they're sitting in my apt now! also if you need some mud tires better than what you got now you can have mine for dirt cheap, they're going in the garbage soon though as i have no space for them.
going in the garbage? what size are they and what are they.. don't throw awa;y decent tires. I spent $20 getting rid of my useless bald studless winter tires at my local landfill.. what a rip off. it would have been nice if they were usable and i could have given them away but they were FAR from usable
good to hear the body lift doesn't really seem to make it more tippy
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i haven't been off roading since the BL yet, hopefully sunday.... tires aren't worth shipping anywhere, 2 are 90% 2 are 50% tread, cooper stt's 30's. i've already got bumper skins on my balcony making a trash pile, the tires need a home before the end of the weekend, anybody in the ottawa ontario area can try for them if they want. i won't spend the time shipping or anything, sorry - just to busy.
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yea, that's kind of out of my distance range, sorry
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hey bzzr2! for the shifter : (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2143000-2143999/2143213_58.jpg) just trim it!!
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Ok, now I understand more clearly - in the picture of my truck, right below the gas tank fill tube cover, you'll see the black metal - under that are four interior vents on both sides. They are normally covered up by the plastic molding of the back bumper fascia. It looks funny with them uncovered - so, I two sheets of sheet metal, 18x24 or something, and held it up to what needed to be covered, traced it with a sharpie, then cut. Pretty simple, up close it is not terribly well done, but it does the job and someday, I'd like to redo them to fix the flaws.
On the Grand's, if you take the cladding off, you'll have all sorts of holes on the body where it attaches.
Still want somebody like Shrock to come up with front and rear solutions for our trucks ... that sidekick front bumper is killer.
I'd like to see a nice set of front and rear bumpers with integrated tow points (2" receivers) for mounting winches and towing from. Trail Tough makes some nice tube bumpers for Track/Kicks but so far only the rear has the 2" receiver and alas, nada for the GV.
A cheap and easy fix for the body cladding holes is to simply cover the hole with a tiny peice of tape and have them spray the bedliner right over it. With the thickness and tear resistance most professional bedliners have you'd have to try REALLY hard to find and then poke a hole at those tiny spots.
Hrm...wonder if I could cut up the stock rear bumper fascia and use it's "wings" similar to your sheetmetal dealies?
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thanks zr2, that's what i did and it works perfect! used an aftermarket shift boot though - seemed easier then playing around with the stock boot.
one thing i noticed after washing up the tracker is that the rear bumper is fully painted black and matches the body but the front is missing some patches like somebody got lazy painting it.. thinking of using some bedliner type stuff on the front and rear bumpers for now.
hey ajmblazer, i have the same plan for bumpers with an interior receiver point for the winch while not in use. the receiver mounted winches i've seen stick out a little on the far side for the front/rear clearance and approach angles on my ride. it will be a while before this happens, i've done enough for this year! for now i'm stuck using the old fashioned come-along, oh well.
maroon monsoon, no worries, 2 of them are pretty worn.. new tires go on tomorrow, i'll post some pics!
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bzzr2, the trick with the receiver winches is you don't run them until you need them. Carry them in the back until you're stuck. That way they stay out of the way, aren't covered in road grime, dirt, salt, etc just from sitting there.
A friend had a Rubicon and put a winch bumper and a nice winch on it. Had a cover on it and everything...after the first winter he had to fix a bunch of the solenoids because salt had gotten into them. I'd MUCH rather have the winch sitting safely in the bed/back away from that crap.
Not to mention that way you can transfer the winch from vehicle to vehicle depending on what you are driving.
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I'd like to see a nice set of front and rear bumpers with integrated tow points (2" receivers) for mounting winches and towing from. Trail Tough makes some nice tube bumpers for Track/Kicks but so far only the rear has the 2" receiver and alas, nada for the GV.
A cheap and easy fix for the body cladding holes is to simply cover the hole with a tiny peice of tape and have them spray the bedliner right over it. With the thickness and tear resistance most professional bedliners have you'd have to try REALLY hard to find and then poke a hole at those tiny spots.
Hrm...wonder if I could cut up the stock rear bumper fascia and use it's "wings" similar to your sheetmetal dealies?
I used the corners of the rear bumper fascia for a bit like you were talking about. looked fine from the side, but kinda goofy from the back. I'm sure you could make it look OK if you spent more time on it than I did.
This guy from Argentina has some cool bumpers: http://www.parque4x4.com.ar/preparaciones/gvdaniel/
It is a cool site too, they definitely use the modern zuks for offroad down there.
The front bumper would be super-easy to make if I had any fab skills as the way it attaches to the body is very straightforward. I've thought about buying Shrocks Sidekick bumper and seeing if I could have a friend adapt it, but, haven't gotten to it or trying anything custom with some folks I know.
Someday somebody will make something for us,
Jeff
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Looks like some good custom work there. Bent tube and such.
Someone with a GV and a Tracker should compare front frame rails and the like...wait... ;)
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here's some pics of the vents
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pics with body lift and new tires
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Looks good man. Nice tires. 8)
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fit wise on full compression the tires just barely touch the inner lower plastic clip for the fender flares, the front needs to be turning to touch..  i'm not sure if 1inch wheel spacers will help with this or not, i may end up just removing the them, that would be the end of the plastic zr2 package parts. ÂÂ
having the starter replaced this week, i don't know if water got in it or what..  also noticing a funy almost natural gas smell on occasion on the road??  dunno if this has something to do with the rear vents being exposed, the flaps are flopping around and taking in air instead of letting it out.
otherwise drives great right now.  feels a lot taller on the road and bigger in the trails.
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hey bzzr2, what your final setup to fit your 32" of tire???
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if i put 32's they would be rubbing without question, probably a lot. i saw what you would like to do with your's. maybe a 1/2 inch spacer in front and a 1inch in the rear, remove all the plastic parts.. and you might get them in there, i'd stick with max 10.5 wide. i'm sure you could stretcch your body lift up 1/2 inch without worrying about changing anything else. evertying seems like a lot of work for small results at this point lift wise. good luck!
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So i can fit 32" easily with 2.5" of suspension modifie at 3" and 3" of bodylift with wheelspacer of 1.25" and remove all the plastic...???
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i think it would be very close, remember if you put a 0.5in coil spacer in the front you will get a bit more, say .75inch of lift in the front, that's why i suggest 1inch for the rear. you may need driveline spacer for that too, not sure? i also don't know how much extending things will be involved iwith adding an extra inch to your body lift. i don't want to say yes you will be able to fit but i'm willing to bet it would be close with all the plastic removed. also depends which 32's you go with because of the actual size differences. bonne chance, et j'espere que ca marche pour toi, eventuellement c'est ca que j'aimerais faire avec mon tracker aussi!
where did you get your wheel spacers?
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i get my wheelspacer at local store! so y need to machine it to fit on my truck!
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ok thanks, i'll have to start shopping soon..
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spidertrex has them cut to fit the GV
http://www.spidertrax.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.17/.f
Geogre
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Be careful with spidertrax as the set I ordered did not fit without modification. They also don't seem to want to respond to you once they have your money.
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good to know, thanks.