Forum:
A year ago I began my search for my first car which turned out to be a Sportrak, and I'm very glad it did. My Sporty's been reliable, surprisingly capable off road, robust and.. rusty. Although that's slowly changing for the better.
The reason I'm posting is both insurance and MOT are up in the next couple of months. Up until now the car has been used as a college comuter but as I will be at university for 6 of the following 12 months I am planning a few modifications to improve the vehicle. These will primarily be to enhance off road performance, I understand that this forum is not off road centered and so I may go elsewhere when seeking specific advice.
The Sportrak I've got is the Xi model which I understand to be the lowest spec. What I hope to achieve from this post is to hear your opinion on whether swapping for a higher spec 'trak would be a wise decision given the proposed enhancements.
Which are:
Either suspension or body lift
16" wheels with bigger tyres (thinking around 225/75R16)..
..subsequently extended arches
Stereo upgrade (currently only one of two speakers work!)
Install the 3 center dash gauges
I'm concerned that lifting would be most effective with the triple leaf springs which mine doesn't have. Neither does the Xi have the wider arches which seem to go for over £20 each on ebay!
So do you think it's worth keeping my present Sportrak or would I be best of changing to one that all ready has a bit of what I plan to give mine?
For the sake of answering the question we'll have to assume that no money is lost or gained in changing vehicles despite in reality it would. Similarly being a young driver insurance is a big deal and having had the car a year may be beneficial to the tune of a couple of hundred pounds when I renew. But I can factor these more simple monetary issues in later.
I really appreciate your contribution of experience and expertise. Thank you very much for helping.
Theres no real answer here
Theres no real answer here which is correct.
Swapping to a leaf sprung Fourtrak would have several advantages, no torsion bars to wind up, and this in itself detracts considerably from road performance as it narrows the track and plays havoc with the suspension castor/camber angles. Lifts are as simple as using extended spring shackles which is undoing two bolts per spring. Having a diesel engine means much better fuel consumption off road, about a third of the Sporty, and lots more torque and low speed control.
Rust is an issue with all Fourtraks because of their age and usage, many have worked hard on sites and farms, so careful selection is essential to get a good one, then merely rustproof it regularly.
If you stick with your present vehicle you can upgrade, it will be better on road than a Fourtrak, and upgrading is generally a bolt on exchange of parts, lifting it can be problematic as it has torsion bars, so you need to decide what you want to spend, and over how long, and what components are available at what price.
Swapping to an upgraded specification vehicle would save time and effort, but again at what price, your biggest expense will be your sound system as you need it all in one go to work, other bits can be purchased secondhand over time.
Thank you assassin. I have
Thank you assassin. I have considered a Fourtrak, and as my parents are looking for something to tow a horsebox I may end up changing to one anyway. Is towing with a lifted vehicle frowned upon?
I assume that the independant Fourtraks are no better than the Sportrak when it comes to lifting the suspension then? You say that the Sportrak is better on the road, is this in comparison with the just leaf sprung Fourtrak or both, I certainly wouldn't mind coils for on road comfort.
Thanks again.
have you discussed your ideas
have you discussed your ideas with your insurance company.... modified vehicle tend to attract silly premiums.
Leaf sprung Fourtraks are
Leaf sprung Fourtraks are easier to lift due to them having leaf springs, but the Independant was introduced to give a better road performing Fourtrak, but with minimal loss of off road ability, and it succeeded.
Lifting any sort of torsion bar equipped vehicle appears easy, just wind the torsion bars up; but in doing so it brings the wheels closer together as the centre of the axis is the centre of the torsion bar itself, and its something many forget.
For towing you can't beat the Fourtrak, its diesel engine and well spaced gears make it an excellent tow vehicle for heavier weights, and its heavier then the Sporty which is beneficial for towing heavier weights. If I were in your situation I would personally go for an Independant and leave the suspension, just buy a set of 16" rims which will give more under axle clearance, and a set of decent all terrain tyres which should suit your purpose.