Suzuki Sidekick Budget Hunting Rig Build

[@jrwheeler81]

This brings back so many memories. My very first car was a 1996 Sidekick, fire engine red in color. Mine was the 4-door (I can't remember if it was a JX or JLX). My parents bought it for me for my 16th birthday. They wanted me to have a safe SUV with 4-wheel drive since we live in New England and get lots of snow. It was what I passed my driver's test in way back in 1997. I kept that car for 10 years until January of 2007, when I finally let it go and sold it to a kid who was right around the age I was when I got it, so it was bittersweet. My husband and I had two other new vehicles at the time and the Sidekick was approaching 200k miles, so we decided that it was time for it to go. I have sooooooo many fond memories of that truck. It took me (and my husband and friends) on so many adventures. I remember the camping trips that my husband and I used to take it on way back when we first started dating and all the trips to the beach and the mountains. That little truck went everywhere! It kept me safe in many snowstorms. It was also amazing on gas mileage. I remember when I could fill the tank with just $20. I'll admit that I did cry a little when I said goodbye to it. Those were such awesome little trucks. You just don't see them around anymore. I don't think I've seen one on the road in at least 10 years, probably even longer.

[@torrypope3218]

I just looked in the back and found 4 KYB shocks and coil spacers!

[@rafaelsamaniego2795]

I have a 96 rn bought it last year when I was 16 now I'm 17 having some problems but I love it. As of rn I have it in Mexico so that I can have a car over there it's amazing I can go anywhere and I've never gotten it stuck so far so reliable and doesn't waste me alot of gas. It's a jlx sport 4 door with the 1.8L and the color is a two tone with red and baige I absolutely love it and it has everything original I'm thinking about doing alot to it

[@omyswiftlourido4161]

Awesome work, love my 4 door 98 Sidekick Sport great 4 cylinder 4x4 Very slept on 4x4

[@braddahdussifyoumuss596]

Please do a video of the camber!!!!🙏🏽

[@urbanmoto1273]

thats what #youtube is all about. a #chill #video, #guy knows what he talking about. And #nicest #rig in #bonus

[@gioreyes9710]

Gun rack indeed is the Best feature!

[@propertisyariahsemarang8142]

Watching from 3rd world country in asia. Awesome car! I have same car but yours wayyy more beautiful

[@richardjones8684]

That looks AMAZING! Great work. I am just about to pick up a mk1 grand Vitara and plan to fully restore and similar build to yours

[@harrypotty5643]

awesome Suzuki super popular down here in NZ use mine to get to all my hunts & work way more popular than jeep down here.

[@h2oboater]

Beautiful Rig !!👍👍👍

[@ThomasBatzlaff]

Also do a video on that Tacoma next to the sidekick!

[@sevensenseification]

Wow that thing looks amazing.

[@dylano7242]

If weld a front hitch can get bigger winch if want or remove it so use it on rear , side and not be in weather.

[@LiL-JuLian]

Wow that thing it's clean I have a 94 sidekick and that's my goal make it look just like that maybe one day 😪

[@YouTubeJunkie2023]

Hey brother just watched and liked your entire series and subscribed. Any way to do a shop tour?

[@pcx4545]

Nice rig, my dream rig would be a 4 door Sidekick with a manual trans, 2WD model with a divorced Samurai transfer case, Trail Tough straight axle coil conversion kit with locked Toyota axles, 5.29 gears and some 35" tires on it

[@Pssnmeoff]

I love this thing.

[@beavisbrowne3497]

Bad ass!!! I want something similar, I can't justify 20k+ for a sxs

[@-A.n.d.r.e.w-]

Why don't you want to cut the guards? 31's should be easy to clear with a bit of a trim and the 3 inch lift - people did it all the time without a body lift. You should be able to get 33s under there with a 2" body (and trimming). Maybe it's a rim offset thing? Is it scrubbing on the frame or the outer guard or somewhere else?

[@maenmang]

amazing nice to see, i have too in indonesia name is escudo 😁

[@farrukhelahiansari23farruk10]

I really like this truck

[@DangerousSportsForSeniors]

I’m really like my two wheel Suzuki.

[@neangbunthy9988]

2024 I still love it

[@torrypope3218]

Just picked up a nice 95 with a body lift,16 valve run great,1500 bucks!

[@paintnmotors2481]

That’s awesome congrats. Have fun with it! There a blast.

[@ahmedloay2195]

Could you please link us where to purchase the hood louver please👌🏽

[@falefouvaa2753]

Please do a vid on the camber

[@TalariaeMotoAZ]

Nice rig!

[@JESUSMENDOZA-oc9sw]

nice, saludos desde México!!

[@AnakciremaiOto]

nice

[@nickhager8544]

Hey there I’m very intrigued in your rear shocks. What year are those off of?

[@paintnmotors2481]

Any Tacoma 05 to 22

[@nickhager8544]

@@paintnmotors2481 very cool. Thank you!

[@nickhager8544]

@@paintnmotors2481 did you notice any better ride quality?

[@lovely_apple]

Hey bro I just had one question, I have a little 95 suzuki sidekick and I was just wondering how you took off your shift knob?

[@paintnmotors2481]

It twists off.

[@urbanmoto1273]

1:47 in ur video, already liked it and sub the channel... best content...

[@brucewmclaughlin9072]

Why would you need louvers on your hood? As to your steering wheel the clockspring on my 98 sport is shot so horn and airbag do not work , here you have a different steering wheel and it looks decent with the plastic shroud on the column. Where does one find a steering wheel like yours? The latest thing to fall off the side of my 4x4 is the plastic trim it now has jholes where the trim tabs were , any suggestions as the plastic is just for show anyway?

[@paintnmotors2481]

Louvers are to help expel heat. I have always had hoses go on long trips with these Suzuki’s. I also over work these little motors so what ever I can do to help the little thing I’m taking every advantage. As for wheel you need a Momo wheel adapter and wheel. Ebays a good spot to get that. Yeah the cladding on the sport is probably hard to find. On that it’s cosmetic and it’s really up to you and how much it bothers you and how far you want to take the project. Take it all off weld up the holes bed liner where all the cladding was.

[@brucewmclaughlin9072]

@@paintnmotors2481 Thanks , I was wondering about your 4x4 as being a Sport the 8 holes for the clips to hold the plastic on the drivers door were not visible. Hmmmmn hoses ? I am down to one that has not been changed but I will consider that now as i have a longer trip coming soon as the forest fire smoke clears!

[@benjilamastus5134]

Where did you get the luggage rack

[@randysmith8586]

I'm having camber issues on my Sidekick even with Camber bolts. I put a 2 inch puck lift on mine. Couldn't get any better than 2 degrees positive camber. How are you fixing your problem??

[@paintnmotors2481]

Send me a email [e-mail]

[@tylerpottorff3181]

I have a 95 4dr with the same calmini lift. I've been looking for some new coils and shocks. My rig is pretty heavy with the diesel swap, 2 fuel tanks and custom bumpers. Would you recommend the bilsteins off the tacoma over old man emu? I've been trying to get in touch with Rocky Road Outfitters but the customer service is hit and miss.

[@paintnmotors2481]

Going the cheap way. If you have weight you need to compensate for go to the junk yard grab front and rear springs from a grand Vitara v6 that will get you to a 2” lift add a coil spacer 1” that will be same height as the calmini at “3 but stiffer. I have ran both old man emu and bilsteins. I like them both. Old man is just expensive and you can find the Tacoma take offs for cheap. Hope that helps.

[@tylerpottorff3181]

@@paintnmotors2481 thank you I really appreciate it. Are you still running the calmini struts in the front?

[@paintnmotors2481]

@@tylerpottorff3181 No they were gone when I got it. I think I’m running kyb’s. But I’m rebuilding the front end here soon and I’m putting new kyb’s on.

[@KartsAndCoffee]

Do you happen to remember the size of the pipe you had spun to insert into the roof rack?

[@paintnmotors2481]

I don’t it was just a piece scrap I had around the shop.

[@KartsAndCoffee]

Thanks for the video. I got mine installed 👌 what size light bar did you use?

[@henrickilomo7863]

Nikitaka kuinunua Tanzania how can I get the car.I want to buy it.

[@henrickilomo7863]

Is the best car

[@夢想-m3g]

How’s the excavator, haven’t seen it in a while

[@paintnmotors2481]

Yeah sorry I have been busy with my career. I’ll be done with training in 6 months and I’ll be back. I’ll try to get some short clips up soon. thanks for watching!

[@ThomasBatzlaff]

You don’t happen to follow angry spike productions do you? Lol

[@mattmatt2892]

Do you have a link for the gun rack?

[@paintnmotors2481]

www.amazon.com/Kolpin-UTV-Gun-Rack-20073/dp/B000QG0B3Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?crid=372C6G64LEJAJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-Zp60Wsf8N-t_mGXLN4OsmtsXAExkSXH_j45B2glWXVN0Zy5YNDOl3AYuy83sl05fg-OEu1EWc-U2ZzeRuoZU2x01U65_hUYTLBCX4XwGJRatfh6DCKCyGeWYTIDlX4SgKvSiKZHMwpj7SeXGYVfscV42CoEBeTV21Gs7QdCyccg5k3XvGlZ5fAoUNc7qNzBCPuTD7NLTWNvRVGPuvIzng.1mnzjBOcVOt0PNd3AGK5DJDgQTbbWeEV7ZAlerBMZTA&dib_tag=se&keywords=utv+gun+rack&qid=1726810112&sprefix=utv+gun+%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-13

[@angellao9461]

What's your suspension set up?

[@CarlosJimenez-vx7ll]

Hey man what’s the lift kit you have

[@niamartinezz]

Calmini lift is kind of expensive isnt it? I dont have a body lift but got a 2 inch lift from jeep front springs and buick shocks. and honda springs and cavalier shocks in the back

[@paintnmotors2481]

Yeah the spendy. That’s awesome! Yeah there’s lots of ways to lift these old rigs on the cheap. If the car didn’t come with the lift I would have built my own. Thanks for watching.

[@dans1505]

Do you do nut buffing?

[@brycedoherty1]

So I noticed the fj rack mounting brackets don't sit flush on top. Did you cut those off flush or did you drill your holes so those sit down in?

[@paintnmotors2481]

I sanded the shelf on them. Then cut the metal sleeves way down that go in the rubber bushings. Also played with the adjustment screw for the angle. There not perfect but close. If that doesn’t make sense shoot me a email with your number and I’ll give you a call. [e-mail].

[@brycedoherty1]

@@paintnmotors2481 I'm picking up what your saying. Dig the build! Got some serious inspiration for my little "elk tracker". Appreciate the reply. 👍

[@ChasingOverland]

What size are the wheels and tires your running? Looking for the same kinda set up for mine! Badass build!

[@paintnmotors2481]

There 15”, 8” wide, 3” backspacing. Tires are 31x10.5x15. Thanks!

[@ChasingOverland]

@@paintnmotors2481 thank you! I messaged you on your Instagram page lol I just got an all stock 96 4 door

[@LiL-JuLian]

Are you running 3 inch backspacing or 3cm?

[@rajanrairealty8979]

will it go over a log is axle very durble

[@thombatty1950]

Have you geared the axles to make up for the 31s?

[@paintnmotors2481]

I didn’t. I have never played with that with these. I have alway had enough low end for what I’m doing with them. If you have some suggestions I’ll check it out.

[@-A.n.d.r.e.w-]

@@paintnmotors2481 There's a few things you can do: The sierra transfer case swap is not a bad option to get a bit of low range reduction (check Pirate 4x4). With the manual you'll have 5.12:1 in the diffs, if you had an auto it'd have 4.88s stock so swapping in the 5.12s from a manual is perfect for 31s (which doesn't help you much...). There is a company called 4xfourart that does 5.85s which I've seen one person run with 31s with no issues so this is probs the best option as it'll protect your prop shafts as well. Might be a bit over geared though - I think 5.85s is perfect for 33s. Then, if you want to go really nutts you can axle swap to toyota's front and rear, or my personal favorite: Toyota IFs front swap with solid toyota in the rear.

[@shelbiutvracing3587]

Is it for sale?

[@paintnmotors2481]

No sorry it’s my hunting rig.

[@vortecmacs]

More Zuk content!

[@ZeeIceMachine]

what problems did you have with the grand vitara? ive heard great things about them

[@paintnmotors2481]

Me and 2 of my hunting buddy’s all got one to build I got the 2.5 had timing chain problems. Pulled the motor did a full overhaul. Started having same problems after 3k. My buddy did his timing chain when he got his motor Jumped timing. The buddy who got the 2.0 did timing chain it sounds horrible. If you can get a oem chain tensioner you might be safe but there’s just no support from Suzuki anymore. All the parts you can get are junk for 3 gen Vitaras

[@ZeeIceMachine]

@@paintnmotors2481 ohhh, lame. But that's good info to know, thank you

[@sundaytv7408]

Cool car

[@SB-fk4kp]

How much weight have you put on that rack? I'm just curious if the roof caves in any where it's mounted, with weight on it?

[@paintnmotors2481]

I put 2 deer quartered up top no problem. I have got up there and I am 210 lbs. I was going to make a platform for glassing. Handles my weight just fine. Not sure if that helps

[@SB-fk4kp]

Yeah that helps! I just know the roof is pretty thin, was curious. Thanks man. Do you have any pictures of the install?

[@paintnmotors2481]

@@SB-fk4kp yeah your mounting as close to the structural sides of the roof as possible

[@aujangjaya5119]

beautifull Rig,.. tell me how much indonesian viewer in this videos?? :D

[@jagaimojoe4064]

Is the lift just coils or arms and other things too?

[@paintnmotors2481]

Coils, control arms, rear v bar, rear trailing arms. Plus some other little stuff like the front diff drop and drive shaft extension.

[@ensumual]

Where are you located in WA?

[@mitchbackus4572]

Very helpful, what year is the fj roof rack from?

[@paintnmotors2481]

2007 - 2014 fj.

[@drivefastandtakechances1112]

@@paintnmotors2481 thanks!

[@MR-fl5nj]

Hi cuanto peso resiste la parrilla

[@jaredbienvenu1262]

What year and model tacoma shocks?

[@paintnmotors2481]

2005 to 2015. I think the new years work too but haven’t tried it yet.

[@propheticintervention]

Where do you find these Suzuki Sidekicks?

[@paintnmotors2481]

Offer up, Craigslist, marketplace

[@rickgolden9220]

You could sell everyone of those easy to coonhunters back here in Ohio

[@fridayhonorable1176]

Mashine ipo makini

[@harrypotty5643]

gotta get snorkel dude

[@SirloinBeefBurger]

lol S1500 round here like $4000

[@williamredfern5504]

BUILDERS DON'T LIKE IT WHEN CATS SHIT IN THE SAND THEY ARE USING CATS ALSO DONT LIKE IT WHEN BUILDERS USE UP ALL THE SAND THEY WERE SHITTING IN

[@dans1505]

This station must have lost its funding

[@paintnmotors2481]

Hahaha funding I wish. I’ll be back in February.

[@georgezimmerman3334]

You spent more on bumpers than an actual budget hunting rig

[@paintnmotors2481]

Did you watch the video? I don’t even have 400 into bumpers

[@PGOOO7]

1 uv best onda planet the vid +veh Brilliant Makez any side by side look like a booger less $ minez gonna B auto a/c thanxz great info 4cyl never 6 early 90z suzuki jLx suspension lift nevver body

[@MrPlumber27]

That’s false , these things are 6000-10000 in my area . That’s American money

[@paintnmotors2481]

Nope! I’m in Washington and just passed on a running and driving clean body 4x4 4dr last week because I have to many projects going on right now. They definitely came up in price sense I made this video but that’s every thing right now. Use all the platforms OfferUp cl market place you will find one. Enlarge your search distance. If some one spends 10k on a tracker there out of there mind.