Novice needs advice - where to start?

[drgoatboy]

Hi all,
I'm hoping you can help a newbie out.
I'm in the process of looking for a 4x4 most probably a Vitara or a Jimny.
Its generally going to be a winter hack but I hope to do some light offroading too.
I'm thinking I would like to try some pay and play sites but I don't really know what to expect or what sort of standard a vehicle has to be in? I would obviously start off on a novice course but what vehicle prep needs to be done?
Do I need towing points, AT or MT tyres, diff guards, lift etc?
Would I be OK on standard road tyres and a standard road set-up to start off?

I don't suppose I will ever be a serious off roader so don't really want to spend loads on lifts and winches and all the good stuff if I don't need to... (well not yet anyway)

Also do pay and play sites have anyone who can come round with you to give you some general hints? I haven't driven off road since I was about 14 driving around my local farm tracks in a beat up old renault 19 so I've got no idea what good technique is...

Thanks!

GB

[SystemParanoia]

go completely standard

have a blast.. get stuck etc


when youre ready get some 195/r15 muds

after that.. you have many choices of various costs!!

http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/

[cpas]

Most off-road sites have various different areas for you to try, ranging from gentle started sloped to extreme axle-breaking stuff. I would turn up initially in the car as standard and see how you get on, then modify according to what you feel like later on - or see how you get stuck and modify around this. I would ensure you at least have a rear recovery point (a tow bar is fine) as, generally speaking, you will get stuck going into somewhere amd need to be towed out the way you came in!! A front recovery point will be nice at some point, but a lot of sump guards have these built in. If possible, join a local 4x4 club to get some advise. If necessary, ask someone on the day if you can passenger them for a while (or spend a whole day as a passenger). The most basic rule is don't touch the pedals on the way down - especially the clutch

[300bhp/ton]

drgoatboy said:

Hi all,
I'm hoping you can help a newbie out.
I'm in the process of looking for a 4x4 most probably a Vitara or a Jimny.
Its generally going to be a winter hack but I hope to do some light offroading too.
I'm thinking I would like to try some pay and play sites but I don't really know what to expect or what sort of standard a vehicle has to be in? I would obviously start off on a novice course but what vehicle prep needs to be done?
Do I need towing points, AT or MT tyres, diff guards, lift etc?
Would I be OK on standard road tyres and a standard road set-up to start off?

I don't suppose I will ever be a serious off roader so don't really want to spend loads on lifts and winches and all the good stuff if I don't need to... (well not yet anyway)

Also do pay and play sites have anyone who can come round with you to give you some general hints? I haven't driven off road since I was about 14 driving around my local farm tracks in a beat up old renault 19 so I've got no idea what good technique is...

Thanks!

GB

In reality I say make sure you have good front and rear recovery points and a proper rope. Most factory recovery points are either non existent or not really suitable IMO. Safety first you realise.

It is amazing how far a standard vehicle can get, but some good AT's or MT's would certainly be a wise choice if you plan to get anywhere at this time of year. In the heat of summer when all is dry and dusty then road tyres can get you a lot of places, but in the wet and mud its just not really worth it IMO.

As for vehicles, I'm a huge Jimny fan, it's a proper, proper off roader with live axles and good articulation and flex.

The Vitara is ok, but it is a more road bias version of a Jimny in many ways. Wider, lower and IFS at the front. It's still quite capable off orad but I personally believe the Jimny is the way to go out of the too.

Lots of good 4x4's out there, depends on budget and what you think you'll use it for.

As well as or instead of pay and play sites, competitive trails are also a lot of fun and help to hone skills, lots of help and advice usually. Land Rover's have a huge scene in this and their are Land Rover clubs all over the place, check out the ALRC for more info. The All Wheel Drive Club is another good organisation which offers similar but is open to any make of vehicle.

[drgoatboy]

Well I got my Jimny last night!!
Few things to sort out (including 2 tyres on legal limit) but I'm loving it!
Rubbish on the motorway though, boy does it ever like to tramline in the ruts caused by the lorries. Think the kingpins could do with some attention.

Let the fun begin!
Thanks for the tips, once I've got a couple of niggles sorted I will be looking to find my local pay and play site...

[300bhp/ton]

drgoatboy said:

Well I got my Jimny last night!!
Few things to sort out (including 2 tyres on legal limit) but I'm loving it!
Rubbish on the motorway though, boy does it ever like to tramline in the ruts caused by the lorries. Think the kingpins could do with some attention.

Let the fun begin!
Thanks for the tips, once I've got a couple of niggles sorted I will be looking to find my local pay and play site...

Cool

Have a look here: http://awdc.co.uk/ if you're in West London I'm sure there are events that take place not far from you.

[Kermit power]

drgoatboy said:

Well I got my Jimny last night!!
Few things to sort out (including 2 tyres on legal limit) but I'm loving it!
Rubbish on the motorway though, boy does it ever like to tramline in the ruts caused by the lorries. Think the kingpins could do with some attention.

Let the fun begin!
Thanks for the tips, once I've got a couple of niggles sorted I will be looking to find my local pay and play site...

Given you're in West London, if you want to head South a bit then I'm sure it would provide a very good excuse for a few of us to go out for another green laning day out!

[cpas]

drgoatboy said:

Well I got my Jimny last night!!
Few things to sort out (including 2 tyres on legal limit) but I'm loving it!
Rubbish on the motorway though, boy does it ever like to tramline in the ruts caused by the lorries. Think the kingpins could do with some attention.

Let the fun begin!
Thanks for the tips, once I've got a couple of niggles sorted I will be looking to find my local pay and play site...

Sounds like a good excuse to but a set of tyres now then . Depending on how much road use and off road use you're going to do will decide what tyres to get. Something like Kumho KL71s are pretty good off road and OK on road also.

[SystemParanoia]

boooo!

insa turbo special track

[drgoatboy]

Thanks for the advice and invites. Not actually in west London anymore, now in Hertfordshire.
Can anyone advise where to get some of the kumho kl71 from? I can only seem to find 78 s

[Skywalker]

Top purchase.
I became mightily impressed with the Jimny after by good (but slightly crazy) friend took me to a pay & play site.
Much more capable than many people think.

Try 4x4AT at http://www.4x4at.com/ for a search about tyres & wheels. Offroad Armoury advertise some of teh magazines, and they have some interesting mods for Jimnys.

[cpas]

SystemParanoia said:

boooo!

insa turbo special track

Sounds like a plan but less good (if that's good English) on the road.

[Marlboro Gold]

You could always start with something like this, got most of the 'bits' on already.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2296817.htm

[drgoatboy]

Marlboro Gold said:

You could always start with something like this, got most of the 'bits' on already.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2296817.htm

yeah I spotted that one, however I was struggling with insurance on modded cars, the normal insurance wouldn't touch them and the specialist modded 4x4 companies weren't interested because they weren't modded enough.
My new little Jimny only cost £350 to insure!
New AT tyres being fitted at the weekend so I'm almost ready to go get muddy...