One thing you would have do get used to DRM is this. It would take some getting use to going places
where other 4x4's cant go. Another thing that would take some getting used to is the "low" cost of
maintaining, adding aftermarket parts and the like. Also you would have to get used to the Samurai's
quick cranking and idling capabilities. I am 6'2 210lbs and I bought my 1st Sammy for 650$ and put
another 300$ in it and now can go where I have never gone before. Mark

 

OK, I will overlook the zealous "go where others can't" comments since I have been around long enough to know there is no one vehicle that can hold that title...

But I will agree with the relative cost of upgrades... to a point...

Probably the biggest advantage is the initial vehicle cost - because even if upgrade costs were the same as another vehicle, the overall cost is MUCH cheaper.

Are upgrade parts reall that cheap? bigger tires mean gearing, breakage and other issues, right? Are aftermarket parts like axle gears, disc brakes, engine swaps, crawler gears, etc. that much cheaper than similar parts for other vehicles?

 

Us tightwads can make a lot of concessions to drive a real cheeeeeep 4WD.The only draw back about driving one is all the verbal
abuse you take from the owners of other brand vehicles.

rollerskate
(That's what I was told my Samurai resembles)/wwwthreads_images/icons/mad.gif

 

hey DRM, i understand where u are comin from. i started in a 4/3 ton long bed chevy with duals on the back, was the farm truck. used to sneak though the back roads to the trails. since, have had many many others too. currently got a yamaha banshee, a atc 200x, a honda 300 2wd, but by far my favorite is my zuk. stands over 6 feet tall now, drive it everyday, plus when i do get to go wheelin with buds, it gets thrashed. i guess it is a acquired taste. you could not get me to ride in a stock zuk, breaks my back, at almost 6ft and bout 235, i know the feelin. got escort seats in mine, so that helps, plus a spoa too. truly, i dont feel uncomfortable at all. i have pushed my rig to the limits on and off the road, could probably take u for a ride and when u got out, we would have to pry the seat out of you. but, on the other hand, i have checked out your rig on several occasions in the last year or so, i am positive you could take me for a ride and have the same effect. just a difference for what each person is used to. i agree man, no flamin here. just honest answer to a honest question. about the 4 wheeler comment, thats just another reason i got a zuk man, much less than the cost of any new 4 wheeler, and i can take my zuk "ALMOST" anywhere the average person will take their 4 wheeler. but like i said, these are just my opinions.
later
BiLLy boB

Do unto others as you want done to you!
If you pack it in, pack it out!
MUD is your friend baby!!!!!!!!!!

 

The light weight of the Samuari is an advantage on the harsh trails. It is not a disadvantage or inferior as what I know about it.

 

Well, I guess it could be the fact that I had ridden in one for 9 years before I bought mine, But I feel fine. And Im 6'2" tall, and about 180lbs. I love the smallness of it, what else can you fit in a "Samurai" sized parking spot! ;-)

SRN
'86 Samurai "Simple Sami MK2"
http://home.off-road.com/~zukinet

 

It is "an aquired feeling". I've always driven full-size 4x4s. My current daily ride is a '98 Chevy Ext. cab. (with a cap out back). People get in my truck and say "how do you drive this thing - it's so big". Yet I get a similar reaction when people hop in my Samurai. Whatever you happen to drive, no matter the size, you soon get comfortable with it's dimensions and odd quirks. Hell, I towed a borrowed 16 foot trailer behind my Chevy yesterday to move some furniture. I was pretty antsy at first but soon I was maneuvering through downtown traffic with ease and backing up perfectly on the first try. I compare it to being equally comfortable if you wear dress shoes everyday as you would be in your sneakers.

 

It does take some getting used to.

I drove pickup 4x4's for years. I test drove a used Samurai and said "No way". I couldn't stand the ride. But about a year later I bought a '76 Landcruiser. I guess it was a good "transition" vehicle for me. Because the next time I drove a Samurai it didn't seem to ride that bad.

I've owned my Samurai for 7 years and I love it. No it's not the best riding vehicle out there. But in my opinion it's the best all around 4x4 there is.

Jay

/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gifjbird88_5@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/jbird88_5/index.html

 

Gotta agree with SRN about the Samurai sized parking spot!
When my wife said she wanted to buy a zuki - I said "what for?"
But almost two years and lots of mods later it is pretty much mine,
I love cruising around town with it- doors off top down-plus alomst 30 mpg
on 31" tires. I used to drive a F150 and then a CJ7 and by far my
zuk is the most reliable out the three.
Wayne

 

I'm 6'4", 200lbs. I fit in my Zuki better than most other cars. I swapped in a set of Hyundai seats, from an '95 Accent. I mounted them lower and back from the stock location. As for the narrow track and smallness..... takes some getting used to. A roll cage and 15x8" beadlocks with 2" backspacing helps take the pucker factor outta side hills!

I'm ready to get out on the trail with that Toyota and see what it can do! Are you planning any Tellico or Monteagle rides soon DRM?

crobbins@iswt.com
http://www.geocities.com/zuki_chris/

 

You can check out that other post below/above (darn thing keeps moving around!).

I am gonna try to go to Tellico the weekend of the 29th, but if not I will be there the next weekend.

I had another question that maybe you or someone else could answer - why not Dana 44 axles to go under a Sami? I have 2 rear offset 44's right now that seem like they would be perfect, but I don't really hear that much about them...

I can't reply to all of the other posts, but thanks for all the replies. Sometimes I find it interesting to have an "outsider" question what you like & dislike about a rig - gets some good answers and some great discussion /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

 

I've looked at a lot of the aftermarket stuff, and it all seems pretty pricey to me, but I'm a cheap SOB anyway./wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

Gears......you can get a front and rear Sidekick chunks for about $500 CND. Since most people can swap them in themselves, it is usually cheaper.

T-case gears......if you can find an '84 case, you can mix and match, and do some welding to mate them in a later case. Say $250 US for the '84 case, and if you do the work yourself........

Lifts.....again DIY for cheap.

Engine stuff........wouldn't bother myself......would rather swap in a better one than waste the money on the Samurai mill.

Driving one......used to a CJ5, not that much different, but I will be getting another CJ5 and giving the Samurai to my 5 foot nothing GF./wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif Just a different way of expereincing a trail than a Toyota or simular eh!

jo-jo
http://island4x4.com/ Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada...eh!

 

I guess I have you all beat when it comes to cramming a large body into a Samurai. At 6'2" tall and 320 pounds people are amazed I fit in it at all. All I can say is I fell much Safer Off-roading in it then the Toyota I had(still regret selling it though).

LOCO

 

DRM,
Dana 44 is the most popular axle conversion,second is probably Toyota.It doesn't seem to be needed unless you get into 33" and
larger tires.The why not of this would be ,"keep it light". One of the pleasures of working on these things is the weight of the parts.
One man can lift a complete front axle assembly with rotors,a T-case can be held up with one hand,a tranny can be easily dropped
from the vehicle with out having a friend or a jack to assist you.Try that with Dana parts.

rollerskate
(That's what I was told my Samurai resembles)/wwwthreads_images/icons/mad.gif

 

DRM you gotta get together with my almost brother in law ... he has a toy ,loves it ,knocks my zuk.the thing is do you root for the underdog?...i do .the size is something you get used to (and i am 6'3").i used to drive pizzas and there is nothing closer to a license to speed .got out of about 300 dollers in speeding tix.cause i had a hot pizza in the car ,and noone likes a cold one .
i used to go around corners at 30 - 35 miles a hour swerve in and out as needed to get down bizzy streets ,and drive through frat boys front lawns in fwd low ,if i didn't get tipped.
i love my zuk tryed and true,in the most abusive driving job out there.i wouldn't trade it for anything.
the best thing is that people like you (no offence)think there worthless,and i can pick them up for dirt cheap prices because they think of them as junk.
well to each there own .go pick one up cheap,work on is simple design,take it off road in stock form ,fall in love with it .that is the order of operations.
zukikid
p.s. i really dig your rig ..

 

gosh...your about to make me go buy a suzuki! sounds good...cheap aftermarket parts...light...shortwheel base...but its small..

If its too loud, your too old
Cameron Burnett

 

Hey again, zukikid, dont recollect DRM callin a zuk worthless, he just drives a mondo built toy. just wanted to make some interestin conversation. hes pretty cool though, been followin DRM for a long time on other boards. hey man, howd that tracker deal go? hope things worked out well for you.
hey 82 jimmy, seriously man, check out a zuk, they are great....
just ask anybody on here.
later
bb

Do unto others as you want done to you!
If you pack it in, pack it out!
MUD is your friend baby!!!!!!!!!!

 

Last winter, after my ex took my 85 Toy to New York and left me with her Subaru wagon, I told my friends I'd have a truck by summer, "even if I had to buy a Samurai." I just finished my spring over, still have less than $1800 into it and now all my friends are talking about getting one of their own. Especially the guys with the F250s and larger. They see me jump it and wheel it and while most won't ride with me, they want one of their own. As for safety, you get used to it. They really don't tip so easy so as long as a you don't get sucker punched by some Buick, you oughta be OK. Plus, my first car was a Triumph Spitfire, so tiny, little, unsafe, barely bolted together, rust buckets hold a dear place in my heart. That was the best car I ever pushed.

Troy
www.AbusiveMotorSports.com

 

How can I drive a Zuk??? That one is easy.
1. It starts every time.
2. If you get stuck, you can get out alone.
3. If you slide off the trail, you can pick the thing up and put it back on.

Just like that.

Baja

 

Yeah, I just started this for the "conversation" factor, not intending to bask Zuk's at all...

I guess it is all perspective and needs - *I* need more room than a Zuk can offer, and *I* need a platform that is bigger for bigger parts (bigger engine, bigger axles, bigger tires) /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

 

Bigger isn't always better!

 

Suzuki's are easy to drive. I used to drive mine daily. Now it sits waiting for a 1.6 16 valve motor. Filled the motor up with water, stuff just will not burn. I got water in the motor with 16" lift and 39.5 Boggers. And yea a stock Samuria is not much bigger than my four wheeler.

2000 Polaris 425 Xpedition 4" lift, 27" Vampires
1992 Samuria 16" lift, 39.5" Boggers, Toy axles

 

I used to think that too... and also that small 4 cylinders are as good as big V8's, and crawler gears make up for everything, and 33's are as big a tire as anyone would need...

I have been around this sport long enough to know that a V8 can do anything a 4 cylinder can do - and then some. And a 38" tire can do anything a 33" tire can do - and them some... /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 

Hey DRM,

got to agree with you completely here. when properly set up, a v8 can do more, and larger tires can do more, but thats part of the reason that we zuksters are in our little cult here!! many of us like the """small""" factor of the zuk. much more realiable than a cj 2 or 3, got 4 of them, I KNOW!!!!! mof, one is gettin zuk axles in it one of these days... anyway, when it comes back to it, with 31's or 33's on a zuk, gears, cage, bumpers, winch, etc,etc, it is still a much cheaper investment, can follow you MAYBE not all, but many many places that you decide to go. Yeah, u still got a little wheel base advantage, but in the same respect, it is a disadvantage in other circumstances. theres a swap off to everything here.
as far as the 4 cyl being as good as a v8... NEVER, NADA, NO CHANCE!!!!! believe me, if i could get a v8 in my zuk n not have problems from everything else, it would be there. but i need it reliable, i drive my trap every day...
theres pros n cons to everything my friend....
c u on the trail one day...
Later
BiLLy bOB
ps,
this post has been
good conversation
piece man, thanks


Do unto others as you want done to you!
If you pack it in, pack it out!
MUD is your friend baby!!!!!!!!!!

 

/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif Let's see ! "How can you drive a Zuki???"

1: Remove doors
2: Install a good roll cage
3: Move seats as far back as they will go
4: Remove the rear seat so the front seat will go back a bit more
5: Install the largest lift you can get, and some LARGE tires. (So you dont have to bend over to get in it) /wwwthreads_images/icons/blush.gif
6: Add some lower gears ( This is to carry the heavy weight added to the driver's seat )
7: Add a 12000lb winch ( Used to help install the driver and co-pilot) /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif
8: 1 jar vaseline to coat the two remaining seats ( Helps with the HIGH PUCKER FACTOR)
9: Install a C.B. radio (Used for communication with others, once you get in, no need getting out to talk to others)
10: The shifter will need to be re-constructed so it will bend around the right knee.

Ooops I got carried away!!!! You wanted to know "How can you DRIVE a Zuki ???"

Well after you take the 10 steps above, You have no choice but to drive the thing ! /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

Just kidding ! I Love my Zuki !!!!!!!!
And Im 6' 250lbs

Toolmaster
http://sites.netscape.net/tmtoolman/zuki