is it me or do these things just not freewheel - I have checked brakes etc in the past.

had a flat battery after standing in mates yard for 2 weeks, and couldn't bump start it on my own even on a gentle slope as couldn't get it moving fast enough.

( 1.6 8V carb Vitara manual)

Just a thought....the transfer case can be shifted from

2 HI
4 HI
NEUTRAL
4 LO

Maybe you should put the transfer case into neutral along with the transmission.  Maybe you could also try unlocking the hubs....I think that will make it easier to push start.

did all that & double checked it

did read previous posts about susp lift affecting brake balance because of rear diff position, and wonder if thats part of it

Geez, the Gnewt coasts just fine in neutral, even with only 10 pounds of air in the tyres.  Maybe your Ebrake cable needs to be loosened a bit?

T-case in neutral makes the front
drive shaft turn also. Mine has never
freewheeled easily, and I too have
looked at the brakes, as well as other
sources of drag, I think it's just the
nature of the beast.

The same section of freeway that I could
start at 55 MPH and end up at 75 MPH just
coasting in my 82 Scirocco, I will slow down
to about 45 MPH in the Kick, if it freewheeled
as easy as the Scirocco, I'd get 30 MPG too

Wild

your experience with the VW is the same as me - My VW T4 van, with the aerodynamics of a brick runs so well in neutral, where the vit comes to a halt.

I used to flog the crap out of that
Scirocco, and it still gave me 26-30
MPG, I once drove real normal, you
know speed limit, coasting into stops,
accelerating easy, and I got 41 MPG  

But it was soooooooooo  much fun to
drive hard and fast, I only did that once

You could go to any mountain road, and
double the cornering speed signs number
and be well within the capability of that car,
I still miss that car    best on road car
I have ever had, and a purfect 3rd gear for
mountain driving, good from 35 to 85 MPH

OOHhhh the roads I ripped up in that little bullet

my vit sorta coasts ok, nothing great, just takes longer to come to a stop compared to using the brakes.

BUT, i can push start my vit with in 3-5 metres of where it was parked! if i have someone pushing, it only takes about 3 metres, if i'm by myself, it takes a bit longer to get the vit rolling. but she starts everytime i push start it. thats why i love the 8 valve carby motor.

i once tried push starting my Nissan X-Trail when it had a flat battery, now that was a very silly idea! i went the whole street and its still wouldnt start!  well, maybe not the whole street, but at least 200 metres! damn EFI etc etc.

well i learnt didnt i.

once had my boss push me in the 16v for 4 blocks with a dead battery, wouldnt go.  all it needed was a little jumpercable.

But seriously, I dont think anything with a transfer case rolls easy

Just a thought...auxillary batteries are great for more than running KCs and winches...you always have another energy source when your ignition battery goes flat...never met a Zuk I didn't like...gotta go check the pics in this site...Zookie Porn...hehehehe