In the process of buying a Jimny.

Hi,

I'm currently in the process of buying my cousins Jimny, just have to wait until he has purchased his new car before I can have it.

It is completely standard and I want to modify it for use on green lanes and pay and play days (mainly the latter).

I am just wondering what essential mods I will need to get started off roading and after that I will build up the Jimny with more and more mods over time. Obviously lift, big tyres etc but what recommendations do people have from experience?

Cheers
Tricker

Forgot to mention I will put pics up when I have completed the purchase!

Hi Tricker, Welcome to the Forum.

Always plenty of answers on here to help you.

My first one is perhaps, get a bigger wallet! :laugh:

Suspension lift, body lift, another bigger wallet, radius arms, 31" or even 33" tryres after buying a rock lobster box, h/d bumpers, winch.

So beginneth the slippery of slippery slopes.

It's fun though!

Luckily I have been saving for a while as I know it's not gonna be the cheapest of hobbies!!!

I don't think I am going to go down the winch route straight away, for now I'm thinking tyres, lift, protection etc.

I have use of a second car so road miles will be limited meaning I can get some aggressive tyres, do you have any suggestions from experience?? My friend has a set of Insa Turbos but I was told they are remoulds so to steer clear, any their any tyres with similar ability that aren't remoulds?

Also if I only got a 2" lift would I have to cut away at the wheel arches if I wanted to fit bigger tyres?

Cheers for the help!

For green lanes, standard size tyres, slightly more open tread, recovery points and a tow rope are all you need: the idea is not to damage the lane. A standard jimny will go most places on better tyres.

For serious P&P big tyres, suspension lift, caster corrected strengthened arms, panhard rods, body lift, rocklobster, mound of spare axles at home. TBH, for what it will cost you would be better off with a defender (I know: heresy :ohmy: Cheaper spares, no mods required except wheels and tyres until you really get serious)

Like we say tricking a jimny up can be a real money pit, and if you use it seriously you will break lots of expensive stuff

If I where you I would plane ahead .... Happened to me you get something done and think that is going to be the away and then end up not happy and spending more money than was necessary.

Make up a plan of what you want to achieve and work from there. This way you only buy parts once...

What type of offroader are you trying build. Light medium extreme ultimate???

I would say medium spec, I need to keep up with some mates who have defenders with lift tyres etc but I am not going to get a serious as entering competitions or anything - mainly just for weekend fun!

Luckily my uncle has gone through a fair few 4x4s and is a mechanic so I am not worried about fittings costs or having to pay to get work done etc.

The main reason for getting a Jimny is that it is different to what my mates have and from what I've seen they are very capable for such a small vehicle!

Cheers

Yes they are.

The most important things in my view are:
1. Protections is a must so you can start here (money well spent)
2. A 2" lift will be enough for what you are looking for.
3. Get bigger tyres 215/75/15 will fit with no lift and give you extra clearance but i would probably go for 235/15 more clearance and better off roading. Get some MT or extreme or you will be disappointed.... at leas I was with the Grabbers AT2, not that they were bad, but not designed for mud at all, and will not perform .. .. ..

Thanks for the help!

I'll start making my wish list

I have learned the hard way the fact that i did not plan ahead ....
Let us know what your plans are and we can help with decision making ... of course you will get loads of different advice from different experiences from the members, witch is great

on my jimny iv got a 2" lift and a set of 215/80r15 malatesta kaimans, they are a remold iv done 3500miles on them so far and have had no problems with wear or grip on the road in wet or dry conditions, they do make a pretty loud humming noise on the tarmac though, but off road they are amazing, i recently went to parkwood 4x4 (tong) and it went everywhere, further than my mates highly specced 90, but if your still not certain on remolds a freind of mine on here is building an ORA tray back jimny with some 33"silverstone extremes which are the same tread pattern but seem to have even bigger side lugs which arnt a remold but are twice the price, its all down to how big your pockets are really

Yes i have the kaimans as well and they are amazing part from the noise on the road (Not really bothered about that) they are fab on mud, the jimny will be putting your friends to shame