So....I bought my first 4x4, a 1.6 Suzuki Grand Vitara 3dr.

My first tentative steps into off roading occurred years ago, driving a battered Toyota Hi-Lux Pick Up on my sister's farm. So, I understood the basics as I took the Vitara off road for the first time.  Unmodified & on road tyres I had a blast! A great little vehicle, alas the emphasis is on the little! At 6'4", I found it just too cramped & it irked me that to put anything bigger than a matchbox in the boot meant putting the back seats down.

So......I traded it in for a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.5TD (Affectionately known as 'Tank') Tank was a great vehicle, alas before I got round to any modifications he developed an aversion to starting in the morning. Despite several visits to a garage, it was never discovered what was causing the problem......I just couldn't accept a vehicle that was anything other than 100% reliable, so he had to go!

   Tank

However......every cloud has a silver lining. Because after Tank came BOB!

Delivered in Dec 2003, with only 23 miles on the clock, he looked just like any other L200. I took him off road that afternoon & knew I'd got the vehicle I was looking for! Returning home that evening, with 3 scratches running up the bonnet & over the roof from an overhanging tree, I started thinking of modifications. The first thing to go was the FullBox, which cracked off road that first day, which was replaced with a roll bar & tonneau cover.

I then decided to take a trip round the Sahara Desert with Trail Masters. I undertook a number of simple modifications for the trip. A Safari Snorkel, GoodYear Wrangler A/T Tyres, Bonnet Pins & Nose Guard were fitted.

  Drilling Holes For Snorkel in a 6 month Old truck!

In 5211 miles, Sand storms, 42°C, off & on road driving BoB didn't miss a beat, I was seriously impressed with the reliability. The rear leaf springs came into their own as well, as other vehicles began to struggle, BoB ended up carrying not only my gear but also numerous bits of gear from other vehicles. A truly once in a lifetime experience & one I will never forget. (Especially as even now, 3 years later, if you put the fan on full you get a face full of Moroccan sand!)

It was after Morocco I got seriously into off roading! I joined an L200 website, but it turned out to be little to do with actually off roading & more to do with chrome.....very sad. Thankfully a group of guys n' gals off the site had arranged an off roading day in Weardale. I fitted a set of M/T tyres & drove across for the event. What a fantastic decision that turned out to be! I had a great weekend & realised I wanted to do lots more off roading. I was invited to join a newly formed club, www.darkside4x4.com & have never looked back!

A great site, concerned with off roading & having fun! (See the Links page for details)

Events at Drumclog & Kirton soon followed & so did the modifications. A 2" Suspension lift allowed 285/75/16 Cooper Stt's to be fitted. An ARB winch bumper. A T-Max 11,000lb winch found it's way into the front bumper. A second hand tub was purchased & BoBtailed by a friend of a friend. (He did a truly superb job & produced a seamless join!) BoB & the new back were given a lick of paint by another friend of a friend. A few stickers were added & Voila......BoB was 16.5 inches shorter & looking the part. I knew a BoBtail would work, but I was staggered at how well it worked! Both aesthetically & off road the difference was immense!

The new look BoB!

However, more ground clearance was needed & the only way to do that, without completely re-jigging the front suspension, was to add a 3" Body Lift & fit 35" tyres. So I packed BoB off to La Supertrux for their XXL Lift kit. (Very friendly & very competent, I'd highly recommend them!) The results were superb!

Home from La Supertrux showing off the 35s

What does the future hold? A rear winch, a full external roll cage, bucket seats with harness & some serious off road tyres. Oh....& no doubt numerous other 'essential' modifications I'll 'have' to get. The plan then is to try & get involved in any & every challenge event I can.

& yes.......it'll be in a pick up truck! An L200 With A Difference to be precise.