20 replies to this topic

[Rooster707]

Im thinking about picking up a samurai for a hunting rig, ive seen a few around and ive havent heard anything bad about these trucks and they seem to get built up pretty well. Just curious what the general consensus is? Thanks guys.

[Mick17]

I've been looking for one to buy here in the Northstate. I can't find any for sale. A friend of mine had one and I can tell you a few things about them: They are extremely light and drive well over the top of the snow; They are hard riding...wear your back brace; They can be lifted fairly easily; They get good gas mileage due to its small engine; And they look FUN! One of these days, I'll find one for driving on those old logging roads, getting to my hunting spots.

[OrneryOlMofo357]

The Sammy came with a small 4 cyl... My buddy has one and they do ride rough, howver they have suspension parts available that arent available for Geo's and Sidekicks "both made by Suzuki".. I have had a Geo, and a 4x4 Sidekick, if You can find a Clean Sami, get it,,, then just put the Geo, Sidekick Motor in it. You will pick up 35 hp or so and you will also have the availibilty of leafspring suspension that is not on the Geo or Sidekick. The hard part I found was finding a clean one at an affordable price. Good Luck.

[jawbreaker]

I wanted a sammy for a hunting rig and went with a cherokee and I'm glad I did, the sammy is tooooo small for 2 adults to hunt out of.

[fyrewil]

I've been looking for one to buy here in the Northstate. I can't find any for sale. A friend of mine had one and I can tell you a few things about them: They are extremely light and drive well over the top of the snow; They are hard riding...wear your back brace; They can be lifted fairly easily; They get good gas mileage due to its small engine; And they look FUN! One of these days, I'll find one for driving on those old logging roads, getting to my hunting spots.

Check craigslist..... Several in Reno/ Tahoe area

[Rooster707]

Thanks guys.

[204destroyer]

Got one. Great rig to hunt out of, if your not a real big fella. Went ape when I bought mine, put $12,000.00 in it and never touched the motor. Air lockers front and rear, 8000lb winch, traction bar, gear reduction in the transfer case (6 to 1) runs 4 gel batteries, chevy alternator, 6 inch lift, 33 inch super swampers, easy removable doors (less than 1 minute for both doors), satelite radio, dual friction clutch, and on and on and on. It will go wherever you point it but you better hold on.They definatley need about 45 to 50 more horses, not for offroading but to go down the blacktop road. I can do 55 wide open, but when its offroad I think I could walk off and leave it for a few minutes in gear and it would still be there when I got back. Dont hardly use mine anymore but no-way I could get my money back, its that way with all my toys, BUY HIGH SELL LOW. Good luck with yours

[fyrewil]

I have an 87 Zuki, just put rock sliders and nerf bars on iy today! Working on the roll bar tomorrowMotor/ Tranny/ transfer still stockChanged out body mountsput 2 1/2 shackles on it... debating SPOA.....Love the zuki! price was right!

[CoyoteHuntress]

My son had 5 LOL He built his up and ran the wheels off that thing in our back pasture.. He loved it.. Keep your eye out for wrecked ones That is how we got them. Build it yourself

[dangerranger]

I have a neibor tht swaps VW deisels into them. a little more HP and no more smog! same Idea as the flat fendered jeep I had in high school. lots of torque from a small four cyl. off road I could keep with anything, but on the highway even with an overdrive the best I could maintain was 55. my brother had a Suki when they first came out. it was alot of fun. DR

[Rooster707]

My friend had one when we were in high school that we used on his ranch and it was fun but like you all have said, rough ride, i suppose once you put some better suspension on them they arent to bad of a ride. i found one that im gonna go look at today so ill keep yall posted. thanks again for the info.

[dangerranger]

part of that rough ride is from short wheel base. taller tires will help. DR

[rabiddog]

I have one of these now a 1989 and it rides rough but it is great on gas and 4x's great. If you can find a clean 1 I'd jump on it.

[Pogo]

Rollover specials. Be careful if you buy one. Kid I went to high school with rolled one in the school parking lot. Sure, he was screwing around, but really wasn't going that fast, just trying to spin a donut. Surprised all of us how easily it tipped over.Jeeps, samuris etc all all neat, but you sure don't want to drive one very far. Not room for much stuff. Friend of mine just got an older Excursion with the 7.3 diesel... now that is a hunting rig!

[lepcur]

I've got a 86 zuki and they really work well as a woods rig and hold up to alot of abuse. I built mine for dog hunting but it works well for a calling rig as well. Here's a pic of it and the top left box is a insulated ice chest and the other is dry storage, the main box is for the dogs while bear hunting but also doubles for cargo or varmints while doing other types of hunting and I get 32 mpg in the woods. Mike

[Boomshack]

I have a '86 JX and it's my new project. I use it at our ranch and duck club - it really works well. I am going to lift it and put tracks on it this spring. If you need parts check out this site. http://www.rocky-road.com/suzuki.html

[lepcur]

1 good thing is ya can find just about anything ya need for them on ebay or craigslist, and cheap too. Mike

[FJ Cruising]

I love mine. I picked it up for $900, with 65k original miles.Here it is stock in Big Bear:And after the 5" lift and 32" tires:Working on the front bumper, rock rails, and roof rack. Then time for some gears and lockers

[OrneryOlMofo357]

From the Pic, thats hard to believe that you got it for that price. Great Buy! Congrats! That would be $3,000 minimum down here.. lol

[FJ Cruising]

Yeah, I got lucky. My girlfriend's Uncle was the previous owner, so I got a bit of a family discount. When I cleaned out the interior I found several spent brass cases under the seats/carpet. I need to take her Uncle on a hunt for the hook-up

[OrneryOlMofo357]

Indeed! That was a score! I drove all the way to Santa Rosa to see one, Misleading ad, and it was a pile.. lol He still wanted $2500