Regardless, Paisan, I think Isuzu should then install or refit the Ax with a slightly stiffer "spring" if that is the culprit. I had a 2001 Ford Escape XLT 4x4 and it never bottomed out in the rear with two adults. Yes, it is a unibody vehicle, but so what? The Ax is around $5K more and you would think Isuzu could manipulate the suspension better even if it is body-on-frame.
"The reason that your pathy felt better was because of the fact that it's uni-body whereas the Axiom is body on frame."
Paisan, I think that is only PART of the story. A town car is also body-on-frame but it has a limo ride.
The mild 1-inch lift was done by cranking the torsion up front and installed a home-made spring spacer at the rear. There's a guy that sells spacers for isuzus, just check out the website:
Regarding soft spring, I totally disagree unless you use your SUV for towing (now that's another story). Name a sedan that has a stiffer ride than any SUV. Even the VW jetta with sport suspension felt too soft and absorbent compared to my passport.
I believe more than 90% of Axiom will not be used for towing but rather be used as a 4WD station wagon.
Has anyone performed the 3" lift that Calmini offers for the Rodeo on their Axiom? It replaces the springs, shocks and gives more ground clearance, plus Calmini are a class act. Might solve all of your problems. I'm thinking of doing myself but not on a brand new car! Maybe when I've put a few miles on it.
Here's a quote from Four Wheeler Magazine made during their Four Wheeler of the Year Shootout: "We found that the Axiom's independent front suspension and coil sprung live-axle rear suspension offered an average amount of articulation, and we were grateful for that...".
Let's put and end to the idea that there is low articulation here, it's just not true. Articulation is measured down from the nominal operational position not up.
If you want to get rid of bottoming refer to Paisan's advice.
PS Axiom came in 4th behind ML500 (3), Liberty (2), Grand Cherokee (1).
The Lincoln isn't a body on frame IIRC, and it's springs and suspension dynamics are totally different, if you did that on a truck it would roll I think.
Calmini.... Their customer support sux, if everything goes fine with your order, then they are ok, but if anything goes a miss you can count on it being a long wait for it to be fixed.
I agree that the articulation is fine on the axiom for a truck that's not supposed to be a truck.
Just know that you will loose articulation if you crank the T-bars.
Don Moody just ripped off a bunch of Isuzu guys on intakes and blamed everyone from the cat to his kids for the poor response to why they didn't fit the VX.
It's not always mentioned but if you research, the towncar is body-on-frame and has rigid rear axle. It uses watt linkage for lateral support as opposed to Axiom's Panhard rod. I guess RX300 has even softer suspension than Axiom but nobody complained about bottoming nor did it roll over on some avoidance tests as compared to a couple of other SUV's.
I don't know if Don Moody also ripped people off with his spring spacers.
One inch lift can hardly be noticeable but it offered improvement in ironing out the bumps.
Nah, apparently the intakes is a new thing. I'm actually buying a set of the poly spacers used from someone who had to get their amigo re-poed to put on my trooper.
As for the RX300, it's a lot lower than the Axiom IIRC, a lot lighter as well (lower CG). It goes back to the Axiom being built by a truck company v. RX300 being built by a luxury car company or in the case of the Pathy, built by a company that does both cars and trucks.
Interesting about the Towncar. I was forever under the impression that the Chevy Caprice and Crownvic/Towncar were built on modified uni-body that had subframes (kinda like the Jeep Cherokee and GC) You learn somthing new every day!
more susceptible to bottoming out under a load compared to other vehicles? Drmp makes a good point that many cars and trucks probably have a softer spring than the axiom, so why don't we hear complaints from them?
In any case, I agree that just replacing springs will probably make the ride much stiffer. Also, I don't want to lift the Axiom so I am not to interested in spacers. I am convinced airsprings are the way to go. I will order a set as soon as I get back from Vacation in a couple weeks. I will keep you informed on the outcome.
Sowr, thanks for the info on the Axiom's articulation and offroad prowess, that is impressive.
Cause they are busy complaining about blown up engines and trannies and the like HEee hee. Kinda like when your arm hurts and your friend says "I'll whack you in the head with a baseball bat, then your arm won't hurt anymore!!!" Hee hee I crack me up sometimes!
Although I am getting used to the unrefined Axiom's suspension, I have a hard time understanding why it is so difficult to design springs and shocks that would offer a comfortable ride on a body-on-frame structure with independent front suspension? I don't think many trucks have independent front suspension at all? The new 03 Ford Expedition's marketing campaign is all over its rear independent suspension, emphasizing how it makes the ride more comfortable. So where did Isuzu go wrong?
BTW, I love driving the Axiom in the rain with TOD engaged. It feels like driving on dry pavement.
All SUVs sold in the US except for the Exursion and Jeep GC and Wrangler have independent front suspension. Solid rear axles provide more weight handling capabilities. Independent rears are new in the SUV world (Montero, Exploder, Expedition, Hummer (original not H2)) It's pretty costly to make a 4-wheel independent suspension and provide a good ride and offroad/hauling ability. Isuzu doesn't have a lot of R&D Money so they had to prioritize I guess.
I just stumbled across the recall for the Axiom in the scheduled maintenance section. I guess 15 vehicles are being recalled to have the driver side air bag replaced.
All in all, the Axiom really didn't go through any growing pains for a first year model (granted many parts are from the trooper and rodeo) compared to other first year 2002 models. Only 1 recall and 13 very minor TSBs aren't too bad for a brand new vehicle. Isuzu has definitely proved to me their capability of putting together a solid and well engineered truck. Too bad there are so few of us that knows this. Lets hope there will still be new real Isuzu's left when I go to replace the axiom in several years.
We are looking for an SUV and really like the Axiom other than the fact the ride is very twichy. I have read some of the prior posts to this board and get the sense the ride is an issue.
My question is do you get used to it? Do you recommend the vehicle?
We will use it for a daily driver and to get to a vacation house on the Outer Banks (reachable only via the beach, no road).
The rough ride is probably the biggest complaint owners have about the Axiom, but it is not as bad as we make it out to be. I think most owners just think it could be better by making some aftermarket adjustments. I find it only a problem when my axiom is loaded down on rough roads, it seems to bottom out easily then. I will be purchasing some air suspension components that will be easy to install and should resolve this issue.
It is important to remember that this is a real body on frame truck and it will ride rougher than a unibody vehicle like the highlander, which the Axiom is often compared too. Because it is a truck, it has much more utility than a Highlander, especially considering Isuzu's TOD system.
I would definitely recommend the Axiom because: 1)You get the most bang for your buck compared to other mid size SUV's. (huge discounts and good financing) 2)TOD is superior to many other 4wd systems offered in other vehicles because it has both low range and AWD (different and better than auto-4WD). 3)Reliability, see post 1116 and lack of mechanical issues on this board. 4)Even though we probably won't need it, 10 yr 120K mile warranty (can't even be topped by the Korean manufacturers). 5)Unique, I rarely see another on the road.
The only reason I would not recommend an Axiom is if you plan on only keeping it for a few years, Isuzu's defintely don't hold their resale value like other models.
Just take it on a good long test drive on roads you normally drive to see if you can live with it's truck ride.
only a few things i didn't like. i think the seats are unsually low to the ground and the that lcd on the the center console. it looked very cluttered. Engine noise.
other than that i loved the styling and the price. hopefully it will continue to evolve. I will be keeping my eye on it.
k2rm hit it right on the head with the pros and cons. One thing you may want to try is to see if your dealer is willing to let you do a long term test drive, say over the weekend. I know a few people who got a dealer to go for this and even if they charge you a small rental fee, no big deal as long as you come away happy with your decision.
I love my Axiom, best truck I have owned so far. Ride quality was never an issue for me with my Axiom, or maybe I am just used to that truck feel. Could it be better? Maybe, but that goes for just about anything. For me, as is, it's value and performance are second to none when compared to other trucks in the same category.
Ok, by now all of us are expecting to see some oil consumption and we know it is necessary to check the stick every so often and be ready to add oil as necessary. I brought the oil consumption issue to my dealer and he said they got a memo, which shows normal oil consumption to be 1 quart per 3,000 miles. Perhaps it is normal for Isuzu, but should it be normal in any engine produced in 2002? I have had many cars from new to old and honestly, none of them consumed that much oil. I had a Ford with a 6 cylinder engine, similar setup to Axiom (dual camshaft and V) and it never consumed any oil, not even a drop between changes every 5,000 miles. My wife drives a '99 Daewoo Leganza, which has 50,000 miles on it, which never consumes even a drop of oil. To me, oil consumption is an indication that the pistons are not fitted and sealed as they should be, leak oil to the combustion chamber and the oil is burned along with the fuel. It is a process also knows as "blow-by." Does anybody have any experience in the field of engine engineering to give us a scoop as to why our engines consume oil?
If you keep oil in there they run for 200K+ miles, so I don't have an issue with checking my oil more often. I've been burnt on other makes that checking oil is the least of my concerns...
I think this is overblown. I have owned three Isuzus and all three have used a little oil, less than a quart per 3,000 miles. Since I change the oil at 3,000 mile intervals I don't ever worry about it. I only check it right before I go on a long trip, which I would recommend anybody do with any vehicle. It's not like I check it all the time to make sure it's not out of oil. This would not factor into any purchase decision I would make.
On another subject, I just installed a Draw-tite hitch on my Axiom at a total cost of $223 including light kit and ball. Although the website said it was an easy installation it took the tire shop two hours to complete the job. They had a problem positioning the washers in the right place but didn't have to drill any holes. It looks very sturdy and fits great.
Does anybody know if Isuzu has come out with a rubber strip that can be put across the top of the back bumper to protect the paint? Or if there is one made by another manufacturer that will work on the Axiom? My dogs are having a hard time entering the back of my car because the top of the bumper is so slick to their paws without a rubber strip to help give them traction when they jump in.
My MDX has a good rubber strip on the rear gate hatch. Maybe you could purchase a replacement part and fit it on the axiom? I don't know about the sizing, but you could probably check it out side by side in a mega store parking lot or something?
I installed the hitch by myself in 45 minutes. All the holes lined up perfectly. The only hard part was lifting the far side of the hitch up with my knee while pressing the near side up with my hand AND placing the first bolt into place. I'll load a link to the picture in a few minutes.
Seems to be working well. I drove 4 adults on a 100 mile trip this weekend and the suspension felt pretty good even in Normal mode. Very nice and hard in Sport mode. I'll post a few more reviews after I've had a chance to drive to work and back for a few days.
Great information and pictures. I just got back from Vacation and will be ordering springs today. Where did you get yours and what kit number did you get? Was it the Airlift 60797?
Yes, it was the Airlift 60797 through www.truckspring.com
After I figured out that I didn't need to remove the spring things got a lot easier! The suspension felt great coming into work today. I have a few areas that consistently bottom out the suspension. Still in testing mode right now.
I will check for pinching or rubbing tonight after work.
Thanks for the update, glad to know you didn't have to remove the springs. I just ordered mine through truckspring as well. Seems like a pretty inexpensive upgrade if you do it yourself. Have you noticed less front to back rocking in comfort mode on rough surfaces?
I absolutely agree that Axiom would look better with flat center alloys. The vehicle on isuzu.com website has that type of wheels and the pamphlets at the dealership have pictures of flat alloys, too. My dealer said that type of wheels is available in other markets only, but I don't buy it.
I think, that piece is available in U.S. On the picture from ebay, this guy took picture of his actual rims... on the other hand, maybe he imported from Japan or something..:( But it will be nice to have that flat center piece. It will make the rims bigger..:) IMO. Thax guys
No, unfortunately the Axiom is not sold in Japan. If they were.... there would be many cool aftermarket stuff made available. ( Including some suspension upgrade parts!! )
Well, it's been 2 weeks since I installed the AirSpring upgrade to prevent the bottoming out of the suspension while in normal mode. The experiment was successful! The rear of the Axiom will rise with even 10psi in the AirSprings.
I ran the AirSprings at varying psi.
If your Axiom is unloaded 10psi will prevent bottoming out in normal mode and keep the bouncing to a minimum.
At 20psi there is a little more porpoising than using only the stock spring.
I ran 30-35psi unloaded and the rear end started to undulate heavily on the Los Angeles freeways! The porpoising was very evident, I recommend 30-35psi only while fully loaded.
On another note, has anyone looked into changing out the 17 inch tires and wheel for larger diameter 16 inch tires? I was looking at the Pirelli Geolander and they only come in 16 inch. I want to be able to seriously take my XS off road and the Geolanders look quite capable.
Thanks for the update. My air spring kit came yesterday. Your report sounds very encouraging. I bought an onboard compressor as well, just not sure where I will mount the controls, not to many open places on the dash of the Axiom.
My personal favorites right now are Pirelli Scorpion ATs. I got them in 275-70-16 for $99 from tirerack. Yokohama Geolander AT II+ are also good all terrain tires.
When you install the kit, there is a rubber top insert for the AirSpring. Make sure it's seated correctly. Mine was tilted a little resulting in a wheel to wheel well difference from the left side to the right. Just make sure your AirSpring is flat against the top spring mount.
Let me know how the compressor works and where you mounted the control unit. You could mount it in the engine compartment, glove box, or possibly in the storage area in the right rear of the vehicle. I couldn't decide so I just used the schader valves.
Tires, I screwed up! Geolander is Yokohama and Scorpion is Pirelli!
Thanks for the tip. I think I will put the compressor control unit into little storage compartment in the center console. It seems like it would fit best there. Also, because that space is so small to begin with, I really don't use it for storage anyway.
Has anybody towed a boat with their axiom? How did it perform? What size boat? I am looking at a base axiom (without TOD) and am trying to find out if it can handle the power needed on the boat ramps. My boat is 18ft 3400 lbs. Please let me know your thoughts/experiences Thanks
Just read in the news that they idled the production line where they build Axioms, and Rodeos...sales are flatlining. They will not be building them again until late November. What has Isuzu done that was so wrong that could kill their sales on a brand new model in the middle of the SUV craze?
Apparently, if sales remain as low as they are, they will retool part of the line, which is at the joint Subaru-Isuzu factory in Indiana, to build Outbacks instead.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
When was the last time you saw an Isuzu commercial? What good are 0% financing incentives if people don't know about them?. I probably haven't seen an isuzu commercial since March or April, and that was on the History Channel. On top of that, the commercials they had for the Axiom were ridiculous.
One made fun of the Grand Cherokee because it was more capable than needed because nobody takes them offroad. That implies that the Axiom isn't capable, just a rugged looking vehicle that isn't a real SUV. Obviously that is not true.
Obviously Isuzu wanted to compete against the Highlander, so what do they do? They show Joe Isuzu dissasembling a Higlander. What does Toyota do? they show the Highlander on gravel roads in beautiful country, which implys that the Higlander is more rugged than its car based roots actually are.
Lets face it, most people in this SUV craze want the rugged image that SUV's portray, so when people see Isuzu advertising the Axiom as if it only belongs on city streets, they are obviously not interested.
Isuzu just needs to start advertising like they said they would several months ago and show the Axiom is at home both on and offroad with good towing capability and the benefits of AWD. Oh yeah, the 10 year 120K warranty wouldn't hurt to mention as well.
Advertising is the key. Most consumers don't have the time and willingness to research every model on the market. You are right that ads were absurd. They actually had one commercial with Joe Isuzu imagining test drives of the Axiom in different parts of the world, including the desert, streets of Sweden and New York. The theme of the commercial, though, was to make fun of Joe and send a message that Isuzu executives would not agree to test the vehicle under those various conditions. I would never buy the vehicle based on that commercial. Also, I have already seen more commercials for 2003 Accord than I had ever seen for the Axiom. Isuzu, wake up!!! You have a great product, now go out and show the world what you are made of (and do it in a serious manner, instead of making fun of other models).
Well I have a trooper which has 15hp less than the axiom and weighs probably 500-700lbs more. I tow a 3000lb boat trailer pretty easily out of the water in 2wd on concrete ramps. Dirt or sand ramps 2wd you may be in trouble. I also just towed 6600lb trailer last night in an emergency and it didn't do too badly.
Check out two fair reviews of the Axiom at autoweb.com. I think they were more neutral compared to others (like the unfavorable one at Edmunds.com). Instead of going on and on about how different the Axiom is from a Highlander of Jeep GC, the reviews focus on positive and negative aspects of this SUV. I think you will find it interesting to read and very close to actual owners' experience.
Thanks Paisan. Has anyome out there actually towed a boat with a 2WD Axiom? How did it perform pulling the boat out of the water on the ramp? Thanks in advance for any thoughts/comments!
Like Paisan said, the Axiom should have plenty of power, but the question will be traction especially with the goodyear integrity tires. With 4WD, it wouldn't be an issue. Those tires are pretty poor on wet roads so they probably wouldn't work on steep wet ramps. I even read one review on the axiom where the reviewer spun it in wet conditions because she had a little too much of a lead foot while accelerating from a stop while turning. Of course she said it was the Axiom's fault, not hers.
My guess, with a good set of truck tires and with the added weight that the boat would place on the back of the Axiom, you would have enough traction for most ramps. Probably no worse or better than other 2WD vehicles out there of similar weight and engine size.
On a wet boat ramp you are gonna want some more agressive tires. If it's cement it shouldn't be a problem depending on how heavy the trailer is, and how steep the ramp is. I've towed my cousin's 3,000lb 18' boat out of the water on concrete/asphalt in 2wd mode w/o much problem. Worst case you can always air down the tires temporarily to get more grip.
Taking the Axiom in tomorrow for the 7500 mile checkup @ 5300 miles. I asked what type of oil they would use and was told Quakerstate. I asked if I could bring somethiing else like Castrol or Mobil and he said sure they would use whatever I brought. Hate to be pessimistic about dealers, but how do I know they'll use what I bring?
Hello to all. I get my new Axiom one week from today. I had a 93 Rodeo since late 93. It has been interesting to read others thoughts on the Izusu line. FYI, it will be the blonde gray (gray interior) and one interesting note is the wheels have the flat center that has been discussed in past posts. The salesman is trying to see if he can get the part number for me so I can post for those wanting it. He made it sound like the newer trucks come with this instead of the taller center.
Comments
-mike
Paisan, I think that is only PART of the story. A town car is also body-on-frame but it has a limo ride.
The mild 1-inch lift was done by cranking the torsion up front and installed a home-made spring spacer at the rear. There's a guy that sells spacers for isuzus, just check out the website:
http://hometown.aol.com/donsteph29/page1.html
Regarding soft spring, I totally disagree unless you use your SUV for towing (now that's another story). Name a sedan that has a stiffer ride than any SUV. Even the VW jetta with sport suspension felt too soft and absorbent compared to my passport.
I believe more than 90% of Axiom will not be used for towing but rather be used as a 4WD station wagon.
Here's a quote from Four Wheeler Magazine made during their Four Wheeler of the Year Shootout:
"We found that the Axiom's independent front suspension and coil sprung live-axle rear suspension offered an average amount of articulation, and we were grateful for that...".
Let's put and end to the idea that there is low articulation here, it's just not true. Articulation is measured down from the nominal operational position not up.
If you want to get rid of bottoming refer to Paisan's advice.
PS Axiom came in 4th behind ML500 (3), Liberty (2), Grand Cherokee (1).
Not bad for a "hybrid".
Calmini.... Their customer support sux, if everything goes fine with your order, then they are ok, but if anything goes a miss you can count on it being a long wait for it to be fixed.
I agree that the articulation is fine on the axiom for a truck that's not supposed to be a truck.
Just know that you will loose articulation if you crank the T-bars.
-mike
-mike
I don't know if Don Moody also ripped people off with his spring spacers.
One inch lift can hardly be noticeable but it offered improvement in ironing out the bumps.
As for the RX300, it's a lot lower than the Axiom IIRC, a lot lighter as well (lower CG). It goes back to the Axiom being built by a truck company v. RX300 being built by a luxury car company or in the case of the Pathy, built by a company that does both cars and trucks.
Interesting about the Towncar. I was forever under the impression that the Chevy Caprice and Crownvic/Towncar were built on modified uni-body that had subframes (kinda like the Jeep Cherokee and GC) You learn somthing new every day!
Glad the lift helped to smooth out the bumps!
-mike
In any case, I agree that just replacing springs will probably make the ride much stiffer. Also, I don't want to lift the Axiom so I am not to interested in spacers. I am convinced airsprings are the way to go. I will order a set as soon as I get back from Vacation in a couple weeks. I will keep you informed on the outcome.
Sowr, thanks for the info on the Axiom's articulation and offroad prowess, that is impressive.
-mike
3,900lbs/3,930lbs/4,180lbs/4,416lbs/4,600lbs
Truckish/carlike/truckish/"soft"/"plush"
BTW, I love driving the Axiom in the rain with TOD engaged. It feels like driving on dry pavement.
-mike
All in all, the Axiom really didn't go through any growing pains for a first year model (granted many parts are from the trooper and rodeo) compared to other first year 2002 models. Only 1 recall and 13 very minor TSBs aren't too bad for a brand new vehicle. Isuzu has definitely proved to me their capability of putting together a solid and well engineered truck. Too bad there are so few of us that knows this. Lets hope there will still be new real Isuzu's left when I go to replace the axiom in several years.
My question is do you get used to it? Do you recommend the vehicle?
We will use it for a daily driver and to get to a vacation house on the Outer Banks (reachable only via the beach, no road).
It is important to remember that this is a real body on frame truck and it will ride rougher than a unibody vehicle like the highlander, which the Axiom is often compared too. Because it is a truck, it has much more utility than a Highlander, especially considering Isuzu's TOD system.
I would definitely recommend the Axiom because:
1)You get the most bang for your buck compared to other mid size SUV's. (huge discounts and good financing)
2)TOD is superior to many other 4wd systems offered in other vehicles because it has both low range and AWD (different and better than auto-4WD).
3)Reliability, see post 1116 and lack of mechanical issues on this board.
4)Even though we probably won't need it, 10 yr 120K mile warranty (can't even be topped by the Korean manufacturers).
5)Unique, I rarely see another on the road.
The only reason I would not recommend an Axiom is if you plan on only keeping it for a few years, Isuzu's defintely don't hold their resale value like other models.
Just take it on a good long test drive on roads you normally drive to see if you can live with it's truck ride.
Good luck
other than that i loved the styling and the price. hopefully it will continue to evolve. I will be keeping my eye on it.
I love my Axiom, best truck I have owned so far. Ride quality was never an issue for me with my Axiom, or maybe I am just used to that truck feel. Could it be better? Maybe, but that goes for just about anything. For me, as is, it's value and performance are second to none when compared to other trucks in the same category.
Oh, and don't forget to check the oil!
Good luck, Let us know how you make out.
To me, oil consumption is an indication that the pistons are not fitted and sealed as they should be, leak oil to the combustion chamber and the oil is burned along with the fuel. It is a process also knows as "blow-by." Does anybody have any experience in the field of engine engineering to give us a scoop as to why our engines consume oil?
-mike
On another subject, I just installed a Draw-tite hitch on my Axiom at a total cost of $223 including light kit and ball. Although the website said it was an easy installation it took the tire shop two hours to complete the job. They had a problem positioning the washers in the right place but didn't have to drill any holes. It looks very sturdy and fits great.
thanks,
John R.
http://www.digitalfridge.com/dfPerInvite.asp?iDFICode=55058750
Seems to be working well. I drove 4 adults on a 100 mile trip this weekend and the suspension felt pretty good even in Normal mode. Very nice and hard in Sport mode. I'll post a few more reviews after I've had a chance to drive to work and back for a few days.
After I figured out that I didn't need to remove the spring things got a lot easier! The suspension felt great coming into work today. I have a few areas that consistently bottom out the suspension. Still in testing mode right now.
I will check for pinching or rubbing tonight after work.
I haven't been here for while...
BTW I have question regarding the wheel accessory. Have you guys seen the flat center piece for axiom. I was wondering where i can get that part. IMO, axiom wheel looks much nicer with the flat center piece. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1855220035
ThaNX GUYS
-mike
If they were.... there would be many cool
aftermarket stuff made available.
( Including some suspension upgrade parts!! )
I ran the AirSprings at varying psi.
If your Axiom is unloaded 10psi will prevent bottoming out in normal mode and keep the bouncing to a minimum.
At 20psi there is a little more porpoising than using only the stock spring.
I ran 30-35psi unloaded and the rear end started to undulate heavily on the Los Angeles freeways! The porpoising was very evident, I recommend 30-35psi only while fully loaded.
On another note, has anyone looked into changing out the 17 inch tires and wheel for larger diameter 16 inch tires? I was looking at the Pirelli Geolander and they only come in 16 inch. I want to be able to seriously take my XS off road and the Geolanders look quite capable.
Yokohama Geolander AT II+ are also good all terrain tires.
-mike
Let me know how the compressor works and where you mounted the control unit. You could mount it in the engine compartment, glove box, or possibly in the storage area in the right rear of the vehicle. I couldn't decide so I just used the schader valves.
Tires, I screwed up!
Geolander is Yokohama and Scorpion is Pirelli!
Apparently, if sales remain as low as they are, they will retool part of the line, which is at the joint Subaru-Isuzu factory in Indiana, to build Outbacks instead.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
When was the last time you saw an Isuzu commercial? What good are 0% financing incentives if people don't know about them?. I probably haven't seen an isuzu commercial since March or April, and that was on the History Channel. On top of that, the commercials they had for the Axiom were ridiculous.
One made fun of the Grand Cherokee because it was more capable than needed because nobody takes them offroad. That implies that the Axiom isn't capable, just a rugged looking vehicle that isn't a real SUV. Obviously that is not true.
Obviously Isuzu wanted to compete against the Highlander, so what do they do? They show Joe Isuzu dissasembling a Higlander. What does Toyota do? they show the Highlander on gravel roads in beautiful country, which implys that the Higlander is more rugged than its car based roots actually are.
Lets face it, most people in this SUV craze want the rugged image that SUV's portray, so when people see Isuzu advertising the Axiom as if it only belongs on city streets, they are obviously not interested.
Isuzu just needs to start advertising like they said they would several months ago and show the Axiom is at home both on and offroad with good towing capability and the benefits of AWD. Oh yeah, the 10 year 120K warranty wouldn't hurt to mention as well.
-mike
My guess, with a good set of truck tires and with the added weight that the boat would place on the back of the Axiom, you would have enough traction for most ramps. Probably no worse or better than other 2WD vehicles out there of similar weight and engine size.
-mike
kevin