Pathfinder I
You're better off without them in the long run. Their wet traction is pretty weak too. Hope your new set work much better for you!
2019 Rav4 about ready for the trails!
- Thread starter Lindenwood
- Start date
Enthusiast III
- 1,033
- First Name
- Gary
- Last Name
- Foubister
- Member #
-
20886
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KJ7LUT
Member III
Member III
Glad to hear it! I am finally in a position to start having fun with it again, too!
Member III
I With the hitch, bike rack (usually mounted), full-sized E-rated spare, hi-lift, tools, and recovery gear, I am looking at around 250lb over stock added to the rear axle (well, ~258lb, to be exact). At 3.1" over stock, which I ran for a while, my headlights were still pointed too high with just me in the vehicle, and got worse with anyone else. On the trails, the biggest limitating factor was always ground clearance--I have scraped both bumpers multiple times, and even high-centered on what I considered a pretty mild trail (I have the big dent in my under-body panels to prove it :p ). In a testiment to the Rav's capability, though, that high centering was the only time the traction aids couldn't keep me going.
The front probably can only handle another .5" or so before I start getting uncomfortable with the driveline angles. However, the rear seems to have lots of wiggle room, both in axle angles and rear camber adjustment. Unfortuntely, lift manufacturers insist on "leveled" lifts, which leaves zero room for actually carrying anything.
I would love love a set of rear coils about 7" longer than stock, and about 25% softer, with accompanying extended-travel shocks of course. This would net about 5.25" of lift over stock, and would sit at around 3.8" over stock with my mods and daily gear I keep in my vehicle. And, naturally, it would ride beautifully on the trails. But, until that day, I have been carefully experimenting with various combinations of rear lift spacers for my Rav.
Originally starting with the Readylift kit (+2" front / +1.5" rear) and adding more to the rear over time, I kindof over-did it with a recent combination that added ~5.8" of lift in the rear. As pictured, it is about 4.3" above stock--the bike accounts for ~0.31" of that reduction. Indeed, with the bike, it is close to ideal--a mild rake with my daily gear and a toy (the bike), so that when I pack for a trip and load up my family I am not sagging on the rear bumper.
Still, I think I might settle on about 4.8" of lift, though. It feels a little bit high without the bike, and would be kindof ridiculous if I take out all the gear.
No pics of the spacers because they are ugly. I will keep experimenting with lift heights until I get what I want (I am expecting to settle on about 4.5-4.8" of total lift height to be the ideal balance for me). Once I find it, I will probably mold a set of lower spacers out of epoxy-granite or something.
As pictured: 1.99" over stock up front, and 4.33" over stock out back. Tires are 30.5" all-terrains.
The front probably can only handle another .5" or so before I start getting uncomfortable with the driveline angles. However, the rear seems to have lots of wiggle room, both in axle angles and rear camber adjustment. Unfortuntely, lift manufacturers insist on "leveled" lifts, which leaves zero room for actually carrying anything.
I would love love a set of rear coils about 7" longer than stock, and about 25% softer, with accompanying extended-travel shocks of course. This would net about 5.25" of lift over stock, and would sit at around 3.8" over stock with my mods and daily gear I keep in my vehicle. And, naturally, it would ride beautifully on the trails. But, until that day, I have been carefully experimenting with various combinations of rear lift spacers for my Rav.
Originally starting with the Readylift kit (+2" front / +1.5" rear) and adding more to the rear over time, I kindof over-did it with a recent combination that added ~5.8" of lift in the rear. As pictured, it is about 4.3" above stock--the bike accounts for ~0.31" of that reduction. Indeed, with the bike, it is close to ideal--a mild rake with my daily gear and a toy (the bike), so that when I pack for a trip and load up my family I am not sagging on the rear bumper.
Still, I think I might settle on about 4.8" of lift, though. It feels a little bit high without the bike, and would be kindof ridiculous if I take out all the gear.
No pics of the spacers because they are ugly. I will keep experimenting with lift heights until I get what I want (I am expecting to settle on about 4.5-4.8" of total lift height to be the ideal balance for me). Once I find it, I will probably mold a set of lower spacers out of epoxy-granite or something.
As pictured: 1.99" over stock up front, and 4.33" over stock out back. Tires are 30.5" all-terrains.
Member III
Been busy! I built a custom roof rack and mounted two cases plus my recovery boards and hi-lift. One case is empty while the center one holds my recovery gear (straps, winching gear, jack stands, etc). I am planning to add a third case which should allow me to pretty much never store anything in the vehicle on camping [overlanding] trips, except the cooler, so that I don't have to relocate anything to sleep inside the vehicle.
Next mods:
1) Modding the receiver to mount everything higher off the ground to avoid catching my bike tire on rough trails
2) Some variation of aftermarket coil springs (Maybe Eibachs, or perhaps full custom).
3) Likely a home-made awning system.
4) Some beefier tires (likely Toyo Open Country 245/75R16, which is approachinh 31").
Member III
Hitch and bike rack modifications complete! Now the bottom of my bike tire is about 18" off the ground rather than ~8" like before. Entailed cutting and rewrlding part of the receiver, and drilling and welding on the bike rack.
Member III
Made a few updates lately.
1) Added a 3rd case on the roof rack.
2) Redid the custom rear lift. Much better now!
3) Almost done with my fuel can carrier.
Next up: custom shocks on all four corners (and coils up front) to net a ~75-100% increase in "Ramp Test" capacity.
1) Added a 3rd case on the roof rack.
2) Redid the custom rear lift. Much better now!
3) Almost done with my fuel can carrier.
Next up: custom shocks on all four corners (and coils up front) to net a ~75-100% increase in "Ramp Test" capacity.
Enthusiast III
So I have a quesiton. how did you get the front tow points? were you just lucky and got a Japanese Rav4? because none of the Canada Made Rav4s (my Rav is a Canadian made) have the covers in the bumper for those recovery eyelets.
Nice build and great info. I'm actually hitting the road this summer with my son and I decided to take my wife's Rav4 vs the truck for mileage and we won't need true 4WD for what we have planned. But I'm POSITIVE she won't let me mod it up. I can hear her eyes roll, and her BP go up when I talk about my mods. One of us (me) wouldn't survive if I wanted to start on the Rav4.
Member III
Yes,
Yes, I have a Japanese model, though as mentioned the hooks are custom. At this point, though, while I hate messing with body panels (I. E. The bumper cover), I would have probably broken out the welder by now and made a full front nose piece had I not had the piece.
Enthusiast III
Well fortunately there is a aftermarket bumper for the Rav4 now that comes with recovery points for those of us not lucky enough to have that stock
Member III
Working on custom struts and shocks! Shooting for 8-9" travel up front and 9-11" of total travel in the rear.
Also digging in to adding independent rheostatic controls to each side's e-brake to act as a poor-man's "locker" to help get unstuck.
Also digging in to adding independent rheostatic controls to each side's e-brake to act as a poor-man's "locker" to help get unstuck.
