New member from Taranaki

[radmandan]

Hello, I'm Daniel. I've joined this forum with the intention of learning more about this sport.

I went off roading with some good friends over the weekend and i think im hooked.

Im looking at purchasing a 4wd, i thought a Suzuki Vitara or sj413, what are the pro's and cons of these type of vehicles? I want to try out all aspects of 4 wheel driving so are these capable machines or should i look at somthing bigger, longer wheel base perhaps?

Also i want to know what are the basics i need i.e. winch, tow hooks, tyres and any other modifications that are suitable for someone wanting to start out, and how much i should look at to work out a budget and a plan to get started with the right vehicle etc. Im not made of money but i don't like wasting it on unessacary stuff so want quality functional equipment.

Any tips or info wil be a great help.

[wopass]

hello and welcome

it is an addictive thing to get hooked on

as for vehicles... pretty much what you like the look of, no point buying and driving something you dont like.

zooks are small and light,with a bit of stoke if you get a good one or repower it, good in the tight stuff but very prone to tipping over on thier side. i think the samurai is the best one to get ? as they are slightly wider ? im sure the zook nuts will chime in and correct me.

[mike.e]

welcome to the forum

if your in to suzukis the samurais are great if you can get your hands on one theyre wider than 413's and 410's. other than that as wopass said buy what you're in to, no point buying something you don't like. my mate just got a samurai and loves it. all depends what you're in to. Being new to the sport myself i can't really offer you much more advice than that. i got hooked the same way you did, went out with a friend and never looked back. its a great sport to get involved in and i've found the people on this forum give great advice and are a great bunch of people. theres a wealth of knowledge on here just ask and i'm sure someone will help you out with whatever you need.

Mike

[dazza85]

Welcome aboard.
The list of things that can be done to any 4x4 is only limited by the depth of your pocket.
The first things to get would be ...
Tow hooks - properly mounted
Snatch strap
Spade
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Snorkle - if you want to play in water

After that ... well I will leave that open to others

[Bubba]

Hi there and welcome,

You can't go far wrong starting off in a Zuk. I have found that the Vitara's offer a bit more width, slightly more power and comfit but at the expense of ground clearance. The 413's etc are great and go just about anywhere but are narrow and tend to have one wheel in the rutt and the other on the hump, and slightly less comfit than a vitara, there are exceptions to this of course.

[radmandan]

Hey all thanks for the replys, some helpfull info.

Aside from club runs etc, are there any areas in the region that allow public access for those rainy days there may not be a club run or woteva? Where or who can i see for more info on this?

Cheers