HIDDEN GEM: First gen Toyota RAV4x4 offroad #4x4 #rav4 #offroad

[robertmoore]

The little Rav4 is awesome! If it were mine, I wouldn't lift it. Lifting it will cause it to lose down travel.
You will get more ground clearance which is good, its short wheelbase.
You can measure approach, departure, and the hill cresting specs.
I would step up one or two sizes on the tires, which will give it more ground clearance without a lift.
A rear limites slip will serve the vehicle very well.
Maybe a lift would be fine, there are many different configurations for what is desired.
Good luck on the project!

[nolanpratt]

my brother had a 97’. i grew up in that car 😕.
his was an auto but he drove it out of oil twice and kept driving lol, finally lost compression and he scrapped it. i wish we put another motor in it

[williamconner]

I was fortunate enough to have one in high school. I wish I knew what I had when I had it

[exclucid]

I'm gonna get one of these and modify the snot out of it!! I'm gona use my jeep knowledge and build an invincible IFS for it.

[growlith]

Excellent as a trail head machine, not great as a trail machine. The center diff is cool but the 2.75-wheel-drive you get from the open front and rear diffs is aggravating as hell when a tire leaves the ground. Still, if you want to get to the trail and back you could certainly do worse for the maybe $3k it cost for a nice example, and nobody is going to vandalize it while you are out hiking/biking. Food for thought: Swap in a lsd diff from a Miata? Eh?