Buying a gen3 for green laning

For me a jeep is too soft in the same way that landies are too firm. In that a defender only really feels nice with a good half tonne in the back and yet to me the jeeps I have driven feel almost overloaded even when mostly empty. It's definitely a personal perspective kinda thing. I also think it's worth mentioning that I have koni dampers on my jimny currently and on the last one I had trailmaster so I'm spoilt in what I consider a nice ride.

Right now bk from hols so search begins!
Seen a few tidy standard jimnys, when I read about 2 inch lifts are these likely to be body or suspension lifts ? And would you need either if I fitted some 215 75 15 tyres ?

Definitely suspension lift, and you don't need to change tire size, just pattern.
I stuck with the factory tires, although I'm changing them to rough terrain pattern. The footprint of a 195/80R15 is exactly the same as a 215/75R15 so I don't see the point in changing.
We had a lot of Sierra's on the farm growing up, and stock size with an aggressive tread always performed best for us, unfortunately I can't get bar tread here any more, but I would love to get some of 195/80 off road pattern tires that you can in the UK.

nutter2 wrote:

Right now bk from hols so search begins!
Seen a few tidy standard jimnys, when I read about 2 inch lifts are these likely to be body or suspension lifts ? And would you need either if I fitted some 215 75 15 tyres ?

Not so familiar with the Gen 3, but those tyres would likely be fine.

In terms of lifts, there are lots of ways. A body lift has advantages of being cheap, plus it keeps the weight low down. In reality a body lift is more akin to trimming the wheel arches. as it simply allows for taller tyre, but won't improve anything else (bar maybe bumper clearance and approach/departure angles if the bumpers are the lowest point, which they might not be).

A suspension lift can be good, but a poor lift can result in a poor ride and worse off road performance. So I'd advise doing your homework and ensuring you get a kit that will meet your demands, expectations and budget.

I only fitted a lift kit to my Gen 4 January time last year at about 4 years worth of ownership.

I would say, the Jimny's biggest issues off road are lack of ground clearance. The suspension is ok, but they don't flex like a standard Land Rover Defender. A good kit can give more travel, a better ride on and off road as well as a lift.

A suspension lift won't give more clearance under the diffs, but will raise the rest of the car up. The Gen 4 can certainly rub the radius arm brackets and transfer box off road. I don't see why a Gen 3 would be any different.

That said, green laning is not really challenging terrain and if it is, you have likely strayed from the lane or the lane is in no state to be driven. But if you plan other off road antics, then a good suspension setup should help a lot.

Ultimately I probably did the right thing waiting to lift mine, but it is a significant modification that has improved the vehicle. I'm also now running a bigger tyre, which I wouldn't probably have fitted on stock suspension.

 

 

I have the Black Raptor Premium 2" kit on mine. However, my Jimny is my daily driver and I have other vehicles... erm, toys.... for more serious off road use. If I was building a Gen 3 up as a laning toy, I'd be saving for a 3 or 4" full kit with all the bits.

www.jimnybits.com/jimny-98-18/suspension/lift-kits.html

My Jimny can't do this:
 
 

That's the trouble with a lift, the diffs. The only real reason to get one is to allow you to fit bigger tires that will increase your ground clearance.
a lot of people would be better off getting quick disconnect sway bars for better articulation then a lift.

Unless you are planning on traveling over rough ground at high speed, suspension travel is of debatable merit. Some form of either passive or active traction control will get you just as far while retaining road driving manners.





Or as demonstrated above buy a jimny.