Off road newbie.

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BigMonster

Full Member
Sep 6, 2011
1,322
219
Manchester
So I pulled a trigger and got myself a 4x4. My dream car and a new project to modify, equip and play with.

Could you please educate me where and how can I play with it and do a bit of green laning? Last thing I want is to be associated with those noisy enduro k***heads. I'm after sightseeing and touring, maybe a spot or two to try low gears but nothing extreme with flying mud.

So how can I find legal off road paths? Do you know any 4x4 trails? Any decent paid areas to play? Any advice welcome
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,975
7,755
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
So I pulled a trigger and got myself a 4x4. My dream car and a new project to modify, equip and play with.

Could you please educate me where and how can I play with it and do a bit of green laning? Last thing I want is to be associated with those noisy enduro k***heads. I'm after sightseeing and touring, maybe a spot or two to try low gears but nothing extreme with flying mud.

So how can I find legal off road paths? Do you know any 4x4 trails? Any decent paid areas to play? Any advice welcome

If you really want to be part of the 'responsible' 4x4 Green laning community you should join GLASS. Apart from any other benefit of being a member you will have access to their online digital mapping application that shows you exactly where you can go and keeps you up to date with temporary and voluntary lane closures due to damage and weather etc.

You could also think about joining the nearest 4x4 Response group to you.

Happy to chat this over 'off thread' if you want; it's a bit of a hobbyhorse of mine :)
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,293
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
What 4x4 did you buy?

As with everything else, it is a beneficial thing to join a group, or do some courses, and learn the basics.

One of the first things you need to buy is a properly sized Gransfors axe. A Machete, maybe a Kukri ir two.

:)
 

BigMonster

Full Member
Sep 6, 2011
1,322
219
Manchester

Suzuki Grand Vitara, wanted something civilised for tarmac but with proper 4x4 stuff under the hood (frame, low gears and locks). Just need a 2" lift, tyers and underbody shields and I will be happy. Regarding the axe and bits, spent whole weekend transferring some of my bushcraft kit in to the boot and trying to find space for a hilift jack :)

Just finishing with all the facebook groups and polish off road forums, GLASS sounds like exactly what I need. Thank you.

PS. Enduro k*head is a state of mind, regardless of the vehicle :)
 

sunndog

Full Member
May 23, 2014
3,561
477
derbyshire
Haha im only messing about fella.


If you do get into green laning you'll grow a thick skin getting tarred with the same brush as enduro kn**beads lol

Are you really gonna try and use a hi-lift jack on a vitara?
 
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Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,293
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
I believe it is a unitary body?

If yes, you will need two hi-lift jacks, or you are risking popping off the glued windows.
Plus even twisting the body, if it has been weaked a little bit, or the robots omitted some welds ( not likely if it is made in Nippon...)

I know it sounds a bit OTT, but I did exactly that one car and that is what the mechanic told me.
 
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BigMonster

Full Member
Sep 6, 2011
1,322
219
Manchester
I have the wheel attachment for the hi lift so can grab the car by the wheel to use recovery tracks, and in the future I will add tow bar and front recovery points which will add more grab spots. I just like to have this device that allows me to lift or pry something open.

Grand Vitara have a integrated frame, best of both worlds really, at 1.6 Tonne it's a bit harder to sink, yet stiff enough to stand on two wheels. It's highly regarded in eastern europe actually.

 
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sunndog

Full Member
May 23, 2014
3,561
477
derbyshire
Oh a hi lift is an amazing tool It will function as a winch too in a pinch. I drill out the top hole on the rack on mine to accept a 5/8 bow shackle

I couldnt list all the jobs i use mine for including stuff like straightening a broken crossmember on this mini skid ready for welding.
It's an all time classic tool imo and a seminal design




Be careful with those wheel hooks though dude. What can happen is as you lift the car or jack moves or you have to put the jack on an angle and you're suddenly very close to the wheelarch
 

sunndog

Full Member
May 23, 2014
3,561
477
derbyshire
Great wagon, I loved my earlier one....it would go anywhere :)

Health to enjoy Sir.

I have to drive an earlier grand vitara off road occaisianally. This one has the hi/low box selector on a dial switch near the heater controls.

If it's the same as yours was low box very high ratio?

Being used to landrovers and tractors to me low box on the vitara isnt very low at all and hardly worth bothering with
 

BigMonster

Full Member
Sep 6, 2011
1,322
219
Manchester
Oh a hi lift is an amazing tool It will function as a winch too in a pinch. I drill out the top hole on the rack on mine to accept a 5/8 bow shackle

I couldnt list all the jobs i use mine for including stuff like straightening a broken crossmember on this mini skid ready for welding.
It's an all time classic tool imo and a seminal design




Be careful with those wheel hooks though dude. What can happen is as you lift the car or jack moves or you have to put the jack on an angle and you're suddenly very close to the wheelarch

I got the "extreme" version so it's chain ready for winching :)

I did my research and I'm very aware it can be as dangerous as it's usefull. I just like to have a very usefull car full of very usefull bits :)
 

sunndog

Full Member
May 23, 2014
3,561
477
derbyshire
Nice. Both of mine(tall and taller) predate the "extreme" version but that's definitely the one to have if you're buying now. I keep meaning to try and get the top plate from an extreme hi-lift. Far and away better than the standard one
 
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Robbi

Full Member
Mar 1, 2009
10,226
1,026
northern ireland
I have to drive an earlier grand vitara off road occaisianally. This one has the hi/low box selector on a dial switch near the heater controls.

If it's the same as yours was low box very high ratio?

Being used to landrovers and tractors to me low box on the vitara isnt very low at all and hardly worth bothering with


mine had the two gear levers and I must admit I never noticed an issue between the ratios. High was high and low was noticeably lower
 

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