I started to trip log at the following link.  It will take me a few days to catch up to my current location.  The rig is currently sitting at the Denver airport.  I am hoping to fly to Denver with my 10 year old and start driving to OKC.  My oldest is at Tinker AFB, where I will leave it again.  I want to ship the roof rack, modified spare tire carrier, and a few other things, so that I can install them in OKC.  That's where I will make the decision to keep driving towards the east coast or to head south and go home.

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/adventure-forum/trans-america-trail-in-a-sidekick/

Some pics cannot see!
Can you share to me the details of your lifts, new tires, and that modified spare tire carrier, please?

This is a "re-build" - the first vehicle was destroyed in an accident and the goodies were transferred to the replacement - the details of the original build are here.

Thanks for posting the link Foredom.  I should have tagged on to that one, but I thought it was one of the posts that had been lost.

Rasmeidirtridder - I am not sure why the pics were not showing in this post.  They were attachments.  I am changing them to links to my TAT folder in Google Photos. 

I modified the spare holder by pressing out the wheel studs and drilling new holes, one inch higher than before.  The higher holes prevented the spare from rubbing on the bumper, but it would still rub on the cargo door.  I pressed in longer studs and put some cheap plastic wheel spacers behind the spare.  This kept it from rubbing on my rear door.  I may get some stick on rubber to protect the door instead of using the spacers.  This will keep the tire pressed firmly against the cargo door, instead of being able to move a little on bumpy surfaces.

The tires are 255/70/R16.  They measured 30.6" inches when new. 

This is what the new Sport looked like when I first bought it.  The suspension was bone stock.  The only modifications were the radio, wind deflectors and sheep skin seat covers.   There was a laundry list of maintenance that had been performed, before I bought it.  I have all the receipts from the shops that did the work.  It even had new paint. 



I literally bought it from a little old lady.  She was the third owner who bought it out of Arizona.

This is the stack of boxes, full of parts, going to Seattle.  I shipped 4 wheels, with tires and 1.25" spacers, springs, spacers, shocks, struts, manual locking hubs, braided stainless brake lines, tools, recovery gear, etc.  I also had some gear in a checked bag, so that I didn't have to pay for the shipping. 

Thanks for this. Your pics does not show up again!!

I know the tire seizes you are using are 255/70/R16 for your same red color Sidekick Sport like mine. My current tires are 215/70/R16.

Can I use your tire seizes without any lift with the stock KYB suspensions which are available here?

Thanks for this. Your pics does not show up again!!

I know the tire seizes you are using are 255/70/R16 for your same red color Sidekick Sport like mine. My current tires are 215/70/R16.

Can I use your tire seizes without any lift with the stock KYB suspensions which are available here?

The 255 tires will not fit without a lift.

Thanks.  The stock 215/65R16 = 27"

Somebody has told me that the 215/70R16 = 27.9" and 225/70R16 = 28.4"

And that the bigger tires I want, but with no lift, is a 29" tire is about the limit!!!

Are the above correct?

Rasmeidirtrider - I think 29" is what I was running with a 2" coil lift.

The Sport had to sit for several weeks after it developed a bad rear main seal leak somewhere around the Colorado / Oklahoma border.  I was able to nurse it to my son's house in OKC. I visited for a couple of days before flying home. The rig sat for a few weeks while I had parts delivered and drove back up with more parts and gear. I had to leave it again, when Harvey entered the gulf.

We weathered the storm safely, with no water in the house and only minor wind damage. I consider myself extremely fortunate. I made it back to OKC yesterday and finished the minor things that remained from my previous trip before the storm.

The rig now has a new rear main seal, new trans input seal, twin sticks, 4.24 gears, new breather lines, diifferent  radio, tablet mount, receiver hitch, trailer light wiring, factory roof rack, Thule basket, Weather Tech window deflectors, and a few repairs.

The seal replacements went well, it was all the other work that took longer than I thought it would.

Most of this gear came from my old rig.
There are other parts that I want to install, but life, time, and mother nature have limited my time.

I will write up a few different posts about the upgrades and post some pics later.

How are things with your Sport?  Did it finally make it to Texas?

It's still sitting in OKC. I have been traveling for work and haven't brought it down to TX yet. The hope has been to keep driving it on the TAT across the states. I have made it through the fun parts and may just bring it back to TX.

I will actually be in Texas for the next 2 weeks and may grab it for some weekend near Austin.

Quite the tavelin' man..



-Eric