Vitara pick up project

[turbo-tom]

Clean and simple! yellow is an awesome colour!

[plugspanner]

thanks, but the outside is definitely not going to be yellow!

[plugspanner]

i managed to get quite a bit done over the last few weekends and have got the pick up checker plate on and water tight, (hopefully!)

the ally was a single piece again from ebay originaly fitted to a vitara.
it needed trimming and i wanted to use a different fixing system than the one originally used which
was just self tappers into the side panel tops, so i chose to keep the plastic soft top trim and using some self adhesive foam and a bead of silicone i thought that should keep the water out.


the plate already had a plastic window in it so i just tidied it up a bit and made the hole a bit more square.

the brackets i used were enough away from the ally to give a good pull down onto the foam when the bolts were tightened up and 4 of them have eye rings to use for attaching things to the rear plate like waffle boards or some shopping!

the square tube of which there are 2 will also give the ally some support and i can stand on it without it giving too much,.
i also intend using some of the original soft top to cover from the windscreen to the join of the ally to the rear of the steel cab as a extra weather protection as my missus is a gem with the old sowing machine and i can use the original pop on/off clips that were on the sort top rear end.
this allows us to have the top open in the summer.
the snorkel also came from ebay and after making a card template took the plunge and got out the drill and hole saw, i was only 2mm out!

after a test fit, it fits quite well despite being second hand i also managed to get some pipes to connect it all up easily.

the window now just needs a bead of silicone and then bolting in properly.
so now the back is on i can get out the paint gun and spray the rear and cab roof the same colour,
if it is as warm as last xmas i may well get it done then as the family are only coming for 1/2 a day!
this year.
then i can get the camouflage done

[donkeychomp]

Very nice work...I am now reconsidering my rear options. Do I use the door I have and weld that in or try something similar to your work. Dammit

[plugspanner]

thanks, the weld in door option is a lot harder, but if you can weld ok, then it might be worth it.
i was going to make mine lift up but sealing it would have proved impossible
down here on the west coast the prevailing wind drives the rain sideways so it gets everywhere and mine will normally be parked outside and not under my carport so it had to be dry to protect my spare, tools and other goodies.
shaun

[plugspanner]

well after an 18 month build time, the old girl has gotten through the mot today and now taxed and insured.
done a lot more work since last posting and will post pics when I have finally finished putting the odd few extra's on it.
really pleased with the finished, (if they are ever finished!), result.
thanks
shaun

[donkeychomp]

[plugspanner]

yes 18 months down the line and it is ready.
spent more money and time than I ever anticipated but I think the end result is well worth it all:-

specs so far,
3 in calmini lift kit,
235/75/15 knobblies on 8x15 gold 8 spokes,
winch bumper,
3.5 ton winch,
home fabricated tube rear bumper,
checker plate rear valance,
full length checker plate bash plate,
rear checker plate boot lid and rear window,
rear work lamps,
front spot lamps,
interior bulk head,
raised drivers seat,
interior spare wheel,
rear shock relocaters,
twin batteries and split charger,
snorkel,
opened up bonnet scoop,
electric fan,
relocated number plates and fog light,
shortened soft top tilt,
Russian style 'crows foot' camouflage paint job,

still to be fitted,
rubber strip for wheel arches,
engine oil cooler,
webshop address stickers,
and a few odds and ends!





hope you like it, I sure do and my grandson loves it
thanks for looking, more pics here:-
http://s195.photobucket.com/user/sherma ... ent&page=1
now to get it dirty
thanks
shaun

[twiss]

looks awesome mate!

Paint the S on the front in gold and black and stick a black Suzuki sticker on the tailgate

Also, there don't appear to be any Suzuki club uk stickers on it

[RickUK]

That has turned out too be a stunning looking motor,the colour scheme has worked out very well