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"Frame" changes 80's / 90's

Discussion in 'Suzuki Carry' started by Rockridge, Oct 28, 2020.

  1. Rockridge

    Rockridge New Member

    Hi, looking into these trucks and found a decent looking one, it's an 86. Heading out this weekend to look at it.

    I can't seem to find a company that makes a front hitch. They all seem to stop at around 1990. I've been all over the web looking for undercarriage photos to compare but no luck. I'm not afraid to break out the grinder and welder, but is there some kind of significant difference with a pre 90 frame that will not allow for a front hitch.

    The plan is to do some plowing so either front receiver or might weld tabs on the receiver to provide 2 points of attachment.

    Thanks in advance
     
  2. Jim Nelson

    Jim Nelson Active Member

    This is what I cobbled together for my son's '93 front end. He has used it quite a bit and so far it's fine. I used 3/8" grade 8 bolts to mount it.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Rockridge

    Rockridge New Member

    thanks Jim.

    Has anyone done similar to a pre 90's? Is the unibody construction similar?
     
  4. Limestone

    Limestone Well-Known Member

    Rock,
    Welcome! I haven't done mine yet, but I plan on biting the bullet soon! When I fabbed the rear bumper and installed it, I worked of the rear frame, to solid points, removing the tin can lights that came on mine! Not only were they in the way, but I don't plan on roading mine, but I left the wiring, pig tails, in case I want to re install a better set of lights in the rear! I will do the same sort of thing up front, mounting, and working off the frame, to a single 2x2 inch receiver, so that I can drop it when I need too, and don't want all that hanging off the front in the warm weather! Jigs and fixtures did a great job with his plow set up, he can weigh in and maybe give you some more pointers!
    Limestone
     
  5. Rockridge

    Rockridge New Member

    Thanks for that. The more I dig, the more I think this might not be the truck for me. Can't seem to find a lift kit or heavier springs. That with the smaller engine... Pre 1989 seems to be much harder to source local maintenance items etc. Might just have to keep looking... Haven't totally written off this particular Carry & current plan is to go take a look soon....
     
  6. Jigs-n-fixtures

    Jigs-n-fixtures Well-Known Member

    Mine for the front is connected at the two “tow hook” mounts on the front, and has one 2-1/2X2-1/2 tube that runs back and has a 2-1/2inch by 1/4 web angle I welded to it that is hooked to the frame where the front differential mount and the steering pivot point are with two 12-mm bolts. Then it comes up from that and three more “2-inch receivers” welded in between some 3-inch 15 wall square tube.

    Ugly as sin, but attractive in that brute force functional way. I have a scissors dump and occasionally used the scissors lift as a work platform, or a place to carry Smokey in parades. So, I wanted some place to mount outriggers to stabilize it when working up on the lift, and added receivers on the ends of both bumpers. I bought the longest stroke tongue jacks I could find and have the 2-inch male part on them. So, I can put the jacks on the corners and get it really solid. Serendipitously, they can lift the wheels all the way off the floor with a bit of cribbing under them so they come in handy when swapping the tires fall and spring.

    I have a 4500-lb winch on a reciever mount, and ran the 4-gauge quick connects to both ends of the truck. So, I can mount the winch in any of the 7 recievers, and run the winch. Kind of handy to have it pointing off the side when I’m trying to winch things to the road.

    5D701AE9-0696-48B5-B302-1F755FA8E0A5.jpeg
    Front bumper D1D1824E-462C-47C6-99C3-87BEDB2C0145.jpeg C7D9FC30-9738-43FE-8961-1272FFF54A97.jpeg 99EACCD2-BF46-48E2-83A1-CCC38B7668E0.jpeg 5D701AE9-0696-48B5-B302-1F755FA8E0A5.jpeg D1D1824E-462C-47C6-99C3-87BEDB2C0145.jpeg C7D9FC30-9738-43FE-8961-1272FFF54A97.jpeg 99EACCD2-BF46-48E2-83A1-CCC38B7668E0.jpeg
     
  7. Jigs-n-fixtures

    Jigs-n-fixtures Well-Known Member

    Not sure why the last one double posted the pictures.
     
  8. Rockridge

    Rockridge New Member

    All about the function. thanks
     
  9. Jigs-n-fixtures

    Jigs-n-fixtures Well-Known Member

    And, as to your original question: There are not great differences in the frames. Just that folks aren’t cataloging them for the older trucks, because there isn’t enough interest.
     
  10. Rockridge

    Rockridge New Member

    I guess that's what I was looking for. Sound like it's solvable with a plasma cutter and a welder.

    thanks
     
  11. Limestone

    Limestone Well-Known Member

    Jigs,
    Great job, with the pics, and explaining! Very practical the way that you've done yours! Rock, that's exactly why I suggested that jigs weigh in! He has a lot of experience, and won't send down the wrong road! He's helped a lot of us here for a while now! Good stuff!
    Limestone
     
  12. Rockridge

    Rockridge New Member

    That's good advice. I'm pretty handy, just short on time, always...

    I kind of feel like I'm leaning away from this local truck due to its age. It's appealing because it's local and already registered in my state, tuned up and up on maintenance, low miles, and good body but lacks some other things and the vintage has me worried about sourcing parts for repair and upgrades to build it up how I need it. Maybe I need to suck it up and make the big drive and visit a place with multiple trucks. Been talking with a guy in NY who has a bunch of different trucks, 5 hours each way.....I may just need to plan on doing some maintenance right off the bat, tires, etc etc.

    I would get a lot of use out of a dump body and I plan on driving around a woods road and hauling a bunch of rock from an old stone wall out for some landscaping.

    In my dreams, I envisioned a hydraulic plow with the pump located at the back, install a diverter so I could run the dump and plow off the same pump. It would relieve some weight off the front too. I don't know much about hydraulic stuff though. Worked on some electric/hydraulic boat lifts and my truck plow a bit.
     

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