I am a newbie to this forum and want to get some sugesstions from the group. I have a 96 Tracker that I am converting to both on-road and off-road use. I have some property in northern Ontario which is accessable via main highways, then secondary roads, then logging roads, and finally ATV trails. The way I get to the property now is to drive a full size pickup with an attached trailer carrying two ATV's as far as the logging roads. I unload the ATV's at the logging roads and proceed from there. This is where the Tracker comes in (I hope). I want to convert this Tracker to allow me access to the property using just the Tracker. I am hoping to use this one vehicle to carry 2 adults and gear up to the property on all of the roads and trail conditions. My questions for you are as follows; What modifications should I make and which brands or products should I use. My modification thoughts are suspension, tires, bumpers, winch, under armor. I don't want this to be a serious off road only vehicle. Please advise, and thanks in advance.

You might just try taking it up as is and see how much more modification you really need to do.  It might be a pleasant surprise. 

For a light build, I would recommend diggers lift to start out, go for some 30" tires.  Is this an automatic or a manual?

From what you are describing that you want to do, you are not going to have to do much.  We have wheeled a basically stock '96 Tracker on ATV trails with very little problem.  Our only damage to date has been a bent transmission crossmember and some damage to the plastic rocker panel covers and bumper covers.

I would suggest some slightly more aggressive tires (235x15 should fit without a lift) to start with and a skid plate from the front, back to the tranny crossmember.  I would also suggest removing the plastic bumper covers because they tend to catch on the brush and pull off. 

I think you will find the Tracker quite capable in stock form.  If you want to go bigger with the tires, you may want to look into the spring spacers that "Digger" on this forum sells.  I haven't ordered them yet, but I hear good things about the "digger lift". 

If you are on a budget, try it close to stock first, and go from there.

Where would I get info on the Digger Lift? The tracker has a manual transmission. Any recommendations on skid plates and bumpers? Budget is not as important as getting it right the first time without overkill.
Thanks for the help.

Search the buy/sell forum for digger spacer or search the member list for digger, he's here somewhere.  Calmini is the only vendor I can think of who makes skid plates although Rocky Road Outfitters should realease their TracKick skids soon...

This should get you to Digger's thread on the Garage Sale forum:

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=12563.0

jzap:

Any chance I could get some pics of your Tracker? Thanks for all of the input and keep some ideas and thoughts coming. Any ideas on bumpers?

Like I said above, we wheel a basically stock Tracker.  The tires are two sizes over stock (225x75 15 Dunlop all weather).  The reinforcing bar on the rear frame has been replaced by a trailer hitch that we use for pulling the camper.  The plastic rocker panel trim was removed after some of it got damaged while trail riding.

The stock hood was replaced with an earlier model flat hood, and the grill is from an '89 Sidekick, because those were the parts that were available after I whacked an 8 point buck at 50 MPH a couple years ago.

Other than that it is showroom stock, and quite capable of navigating ATV trails in that configuration. 

Stock with the camper...


Wife driving...



What it looks like now...