definition of a proper off road vehicle ?

take quite a lot of stick because I drive a Vitara.

It's a 20. V6 5 Dr. I also have a 1600 3Dr.

I drive across fields and down slops, carry equipment and people. But
because it is a Vitara it is not seen as a proper OFF ROADER !

I certainly could not go where I do go in a conventional car.

So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?

"Charles Holder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> take quite a lot of stick because I drive a Vitara.
>
> It's a 20. V6 5 Dr. I also have a 1600 3Dr.
>
> I drive across fields and down slops, carry equipment and people. But
> because it is a Vitara it is not seen as a proper OFF ROADER !
>
> I certainly could not go where I do go in a conventional car.
>
> So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?
>
>
Slopes ))

"Charles Holder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> take quite a lot of stick because I drive a Vitara.
>
> It's a 20. V6 5 Dr. I also have a 1600 3Dr.
>
> I drive across fields and down slops, carry equipment and people. But
> because it is a Vitara it is not seen as a proper OFF ROADER !
>
> I certainly could not go where I do go in a conventional car.
>
> So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?
>
One that you can drive off road and you don't care about the damage?

Motoring journalists often say the Range rover is the best 'off-roader', but
would anyone in there right mind take their OWN £55+ vehicle off road with
all those deep carpets and leather???

Now a LR 90 with decent tyres

Clive

"Clive" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Charles Holder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > take quite a lot of stick because I drive a Vitara.
> >
> > It's a 20. V6 5 Dr. I also have a 1600 3Dr.
> >
> > I drive across fields and down slops, carry equipment and people. But
> > because it is a Vitara it is not seen as a proper OFF ROADER !
> >
> > I certainly could not go where I do go in a conventional car.
> >
> > So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?
> >
> One that you can drive off road and you don't care about the damage?
>
> Motoring journalists often say the Range rover is the best 'off-roader',
but
> would anyone in there right mind take their OWN £55+ vehicle off road with
> all those deep carpets and leather???
>
> Now a LR 90 with decent tyres
>
> Clive
>
>

Tatra 8x8

Charles Holder posted ...

> So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?

Of course your Vitara is a 'proper' off-road vehicle. Anything that is used
as you say you use yours could be considered 'proper'. OK the ground
clearance and power are a bit low, but they're relatively cheap and can be
made to be quite respectable off-roaders. I don't think anyone other than
die-hard fans or someone sponsored by, or making their living through,
Suzuki would really use a Vitara as an off-road only vehicle, but then they
were never meant to be that. A big problem appears to be their tyres and
their on-road design parameters. We once watched a Vitara driver, with the
extra wide wheels and tyres, try to get up a muddy hill. He had no chance.
Not only did he have no grip, but the power characteristics simply didn't
give the car a fighting chance of getting to the top. We've also seen
suitably equipped Voitara's make the same hill with ease. so I guess it's
down to preparation and driver skill as to how good they are off-road.
Personally I couldn't give a toss what people drive, it's not me driving it
after all.

It's just a pity that so many Vitara's are bought by hairdressers and never
used off-road ..

--
Paul

Charles Holder wrote:
> take quite a lot of stick because I drive a Vitara.
>
> It's a 20. V6 5 Dr. I also have a 1600 3Dr.
>
> I drive across fields and down slops, carry equipment and people. But
> because it is a Vitara it is not seen as a proper OFF ROADER !
>
> I certainly could not go where I do go in a conventional car.
>
> So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?

It's whatever you want it to be, my personal definition is:

Strong ladder chassis, solid axles both ends on coil springs with lots of
travel, permanent 4WD, low box with deep low gearing, engine with lots of
torque below 2000rpm and decent set of tyres.

--
Julian
---------
= Pretentious Sig required =

"Charles Holder" <[email protected]> wrote>
> So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?
>
>

Petrol engine up to 600cc with seat for a maximum of two and a dog.
Diesel engine of a minimum of 4litres up to 16litres with big cleated
tyres or tracks.

Huw


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On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 19:32:38 +1300, "rnf2" <[email protected]>
wrote:


>
>Tatra 8x8
>
>
>
Challenger 2 )

LOL
Steve G

"SteveG" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 19:32:38 +1300, "rnf2" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
> >
> >Tatra 8x8
> >
> >
> >
> Challenger 2 )
>
> LOL
> Steve G

thats tracked now wheeled...

rhys

"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Charles Holder" <[email protected]> wrote>
> > So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?
> >
> >
>
> Petrol engine up to 600cc with seat for a maximum of two and a dog.
> Diesel engine of a minimum of 4litres up to 16litres with big cleated
> tyres or tracks.
>
> Huw

Why not two stroke petrol up to 750cc driving 4 wheels witht he rear axle
worm drive.

The Polaris Magnum 750 is pretty fun. We use a Honda TRX300FWW on the farm
tho... permanent 4WD 300cc...

rhys

LOL u have not seen many vitaras then havea look at my m8s web site
www.K9rdj.co.uk

we can go where any LA$D R%^ER can go and more


"Paul - xxx" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Charles Holder posted ...
>
> > So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?
>
> Of course your Vitara is a 'proper' off-road vehicle. Anything that is
used
> as you say you use yours could be considered 'proper'. OK the ground
> clearance and power are a bit low, but they're relatively cheap and can be
> made to be quite respectable off-roaders. I don't think anyone other than
> die-hard fans or someone sponsored by, or making their living through,
> Suzuki would really use a Vitara as an off-road only vehicle, but then
they
> were never meant to be that. A big problem appears to be their tyres and
> their on-road design parameters. We once watched a Vitara driver, with
the
> extra wide wheels and tyres, try to get up a muddy hill. He had no
chance.
> Not only did he have no grip, but the power characteristics simply didn't
> give the car a fighting chance of getting to the top. We've also seen
> suitably equipped Voitara's make the same hill with ease. so I guess it's
> down to preparation and driver skill as to how good they are off-road.
> Personally I couldn't give a toss what people drive, it's not me driving
it
> after all.
>
> It's just a pity that so many Vitara's are bought by hairdressers and
never
> used off-road ..
>
> --
> Paul
>
>

In article <[email protected]>, Clive wrote:
>
> Motoring journalists often say the Range rover is the best 'off-roader', but
> would anyone in there right mind take their OWN £55+ vehicle off road with
> all those deep carpets and leather???
>
> Now a LR 90 with decent tyres
>
> Clive
>

My Landy cost me more than 55 quid and I take that off road

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

On Sun, 08 Feb 2004 16:12:19 GMT, "Exit" <[email protected]> wrote:

->Strong ladder chassis, solid axles both ends on coil springs with lots of
->travel, permanent 4WD, low box with deep low gearing, engine with lots of
->torque below 2000rpm and decent set of tyres.

How is permanent 4WD going to make any odds on a proper offroad vehicle ?
What's wrong with leaf springs ? Get more articulation for less money.
You don't mention approach, departure or ramp over angles.
Diff clearance.
C.O.G

The most important thing a proper off road vehicle needs is the correct nut
behind the wheel ;-)


--
Geoff
www.anoraks.uk.net

"rnf2" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Charles Holder" <[email protected]> wrote>
> > > So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Petrol engine up to 600cc with seat for a maximum of two and a
dog.
> > Diesel engine of a minimum of 4litres up to 16litres with big
cleated
> > tyres or tracks.
> >
> > Huw
>
> Why not two stroke petrol up to 750cc driving 4 wheels witht he rear
axle
> worm drive.
>

600cc is ample but 750 is excessive maybe
Any bigger and they will need roll over protection and an 80dBa cab
with air-con, in which case you might as well get a Land Rover type
vehicle.

Huw


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On Mon, 9 Feb 2004 11:52:31 +1300, "rnf2" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"SteveG" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 19:32:38 +1300, "rnf2" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> >
>> >Tatra 8x8
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> Challenger 2 )
>>
>> LOL
>> Steve G
>
>thats tracked now wheeled...
>
>rhys
>
Excuse me but it's got more wheels than a Tatra ... they're just
connected by tracks is all )

Anyway, my all time favourite is the Alvis Stalwart 6x6x4 ) I just
love then; especially the way the engine bursts into flames whenever
the decks are loaded with fuel or ammunition but never ever when
they're empty.

LOL
Steve G

"Charles Holder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> take quite a lot of stick because I drive a Vitara.
>
> It's a 20. V6 5 Dr. I also have a 1600 3Dr.
>
> I drive across fields and down slops, carry equipment and people. But
> because it is a Vitara it is not seen as a proper OFF ROADER !
>
> I certainly could not go where I do go in a conventional car.
>
> So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?
>
Unimog

Clive

Clive ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

>> take quite a lot of stick because I drive a Vitara.

>> I drive across fields and down slops, carry equipment and people. But
>> because it is a Vitara it is not seen as a proper OFF ROADER !

Now imagine the laughter our 4x4 2cv gets...

>> So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?

> One that you can drive off road and you don't care about the damage?

Works for me!

Huw (hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

>> So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?

> Petrol engine up to 600cc with seat for a maximum of two and a dog.

Yep, I quite fancy a Haflinger, too.

james holloway posted ...

> LOL u have not seen many vitaras then

Last one I saw off-road got stuck .. and he had just been saying the same as
you do in your last sentence ..

> havea look at my m8s web
> site www.K9rdj.co.uk

Yeah, that's one ...

> we can go where any LA$D R%^ER can go and more

Heheheh, sure you can, but only when modified ..



--
Paul

"Adrian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Huw (hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much
like they
> were saying :
>
> >> So what is the definition of a proper off road vehicle ?
>
> > Petrol engine up to 600cc with seat for a maximum of two and a
dog.
>
> Yep, I quite fancy a Haflinger, too.

Your dream can become a cheap reality at any quad-bike dealer. Used
ones are plentiful to say the least. Maintenance can be expensive in
true off-road tradition.

Huw


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