So, I'll probably get a Sidekick 4-door pretty soon. Auto or manual, undecided just yet. Wondering what mods I should be thinking of as just to get it more off-road friendly. Say a $2000-$3000 CAD (about $1500-2250 USD). Ideally I'd like 30-32" tires, but I'm not sure I can put the gears in myself... suspension and body lift I can prolly figure out?

some 235/75r15's go a long way on these trucks. dont need to do anything with gears to run then either. and no lift needed.

30's would be a nice step. which a 2" lift would be needed cheapest and everyone likes to use is jeffs spacers. very nicely made spacers for both the springs and front struts. and a simple rear shock change is needed in the rear. runs under $200 for the lift with new shocks for the rear.
that should fit 30's with some trimming.

to get 30's or 31's its atleast a 2" lift and atleast a 2" body lift. and some trimming with the rear of the front fenders. this needs the gearing change though. simple on the automatics but the 5spd trucks its a bit harder. either transfer case gears and deal with the 2wd lack of accel (transfer case gears for the sidekick doesnt lower the 2wd output like the samurai ones.) so if slowing down and going up hills in a lower gear doesnt bother you then it doesnt make a huge difference.

you can always take it further with doublers and reduction boxes but even the sidekick on 30's is pretty capable.


major thing to do is a rear lockrite locker. makes it a demon on the trails.

im running open diffs on my kick no lift, 235's and its pretty capable on trails. next is jeffs spacers and a locker thats it for a while.

these trucks slide over rocks more then up and over, so the need for skidplates and rocker protection is on the top of alot of guys lists.

hope that helps you a bit.

That's great information. Thanks.

Agreed.   I am running Jeff's spacers and 30" tires with no trimming.  It only now rubs a bit, but that's because I dorked an embankment doing about 30mph, and must've knocked something out of place.

That aside....my almost stock rig is perfectly capable and gets around great in my local woods.  It refuses to be told it can't get somewhere.   I've never had to give up or turn around on a trail yet.....and have yet to get it stuck. 

Just get some spacers from Jeff1997(cheap, safe, easy to install), and some 30" tires.  Perfect way to start if you don't have a ton of money.

i was running 31 x 11.50x15 with just 2.5 inch suspension lift.. just had to hammer a bit in the inner fender nothing bad ..lol