prossett
1/2 ton status
Just wanted to share a GMC newbie's first impressions offroad. Just bought my 1983 Jimmy 3 days ago... Today after I finished the basic maintenance overhaul, I took it out behind my house where there's a couple of nice sand dunes, some rocks and basically a number of obstacles I always ran my Jeep over, so I know them well.
I'm very pleased to report that the Jimmy performed much better than I expected! It felt light and responsive on sand!! Amazing... I was expecting some sluggishness and lack of acceleration - I knew the power would be there, but I was unsure of the get-up-and-go stuff. No problems at all, and I didn't even deflate!!!
Also on dry wadi bed the ride was so smooth compared to my Jeep, totally in complete comfort.
There's a sharp "river bank" made out of stones, maybe 40 degrees incline about 6 metres long, and so I tried out the approach and departure angle - fine there as well, no scraping. I also tried the off-camber run I always did with my Jeep and matched it - didn't try until the wheel lifts off, but will gradually work up to that.
Crawling over rocks, perfect. Low 1st just motors along without touching gas or brake.
Gentlemen, I report what you already know: I have inherited a full-blood offroad machine here, not a heavy, under-performing, gas-guzzling chunk of metal. Very impressed...
I still haven't tried on a long dune climb, nor cresting, nor escaping from a bowl, nor a sideslope, nor many other things, so it's still early to sing, but so far it's very promising.
Still waiting for the Haynes manual, and then need to do the front axle seals asap.
Oh, I've also just moved my entire "garage" into the back!!! All my gear, tools, fluid canisters, the whole thing! I'm now a mobile mechanic's shop!!
I'm very pleased to report that the Jimmy performed much better than I expected! It felt light and responsive on sand!! Amazing... I was expecting some sluggishness and lack of acceleration - I knew the power would be there, but I was unsure of the get-up-and-go stuff. No problems at all, and I didn't even deflate!!!
Also on dry wadi bed the ride was so smooth compared to my Jeep, totally in complete comfort.
There's a sharp "river bank" made out of stones, maybe 40 degrees incline about 6 metres long, and so I tried out the approach and departure angle - fine there as well, no scraping. I also tried the off-camber run I always did with my Jeep and matched it - didn't try until the wheel lifts off, but will gradually work up to that.
Crawling over rocks, perfect. Low 1st just motors along without touching gas or brake.
Gentlemen, I report what you already know: I have inherited a full-blood offroad machine here, not a heavy, under-performing, gas-guzzling chunk of metal. Very impressed...
I still haven't tried on a long dune climb, nor cresting, nor escaping from a bowl, nor a sideslope, nor many other things, so it's still early to sing, but so far it's very promising.
Still waiting for the Haynes manual, and then need to do the front axle seals asap.
Oh, I've also just moved my entire "garage" into the back!!! All my gear, tools, fluid canisters, the whole thing! I'm now a mobile mechanic's shop!!
