Rav 4 with auto 'box for a pay 'n play?

[Rich n Em]

I've always fancied having a go at an off-road day. I am tempted to just pay for an experience outing, and still think this might be the best solution, but, my wife, having recently suffered a pretty bad back injury needed a 4x4 for the ride height - so we promptly threw a small amount of money at a 2000 plate 2.0 litre petrol Rav 4 with an auto gearbox...

Now the 2.0 engine is a bit wheezy and gutless and the gearbox never quite knows if it's coming or going, but is it good enough to take on an easy course at a pay 'n play?

So, what do we think folks, an old, auto, small engined, soft roader... Will it efficiently off-road?

[SystemParanoia]

pick your lines carefully.. but otherwise go for it!! what could possibly go wrong

[scrwright]

Some decent tyres & it will do fine. Autos are great offroad as long as you can lock it in 1st

[rudecherub]

http://www.woodsport.org/joomla/index.php/engine-c...

3VZ-FE powered Rav4 now known as the RaV6

[eltax91]

Where in the midlands are you? When the mud comes around, you are welcome to join me and my defender at a pay and play or on some gentle lanes. The lanes would be good for the rav, very light stuff at pay and play would be fine too. I will happily take you out in the landy and get you bitten by the bug.

I'm in leicester, there is a pay n play at sibbertoft and then two more at the a47 / a1 junction towards Peterborough

[SlimJim16v]

It should be OK, as long as you don't turn up on road tyres and it's really slippery. A decent All Terrain tyre as a minimum is required. The easy sections should be a good start, the green lanes offered above are even better.

[bakerstreet]

Be careful with the ground clearance is this is where the soft roaders can suffer.

If memory serves its just a viscous drive set up for 2WD/4WD, so take it easy.

As others have mentioned, make sure its running some decent all-terrains. Something like Coopers, Pirelli Scorpians or the ever popular BFG All Terrains.

[300bhp/ton]

Rich n Em said:

I've always fancied having a go at an off-road day. I am tempted to just pay for an experience outing, and still think this might be the best solution, but, my wife, having recently suffered a pretty bad back injury needed a 4x4 for the ride height - so we promptly threw a small amount of money at a 2000 plate 2.0 litre petrol Rav 4 with an auto gearbox...

Now the 2.0 engine is a bit wheezy and gutless and the gearbox never quite knows if it's coming or going, but is it good enough to take on an easy course at a pay 'n play?

So, what do we think folks, an old, auto, small engined, soft roader... Will it efficiently off-road?

No.


Well in truth you might get some places, but you are more likely to damage it, if you need the vehicle don't take to such a place.


The Rav4 isn't a bad vehicle, but it's a soft roader designed to just pull into a field or go up a very gentle green lane. With no low box, a revvy engine with no low down torque, poor ground clearance, poor articulation, poor suspension travel, no under body protection and poor approach/departure/ramp over angles (especially the 5 door). Then you are likely to struggle on anything remotely serious off road.

It's certainly not impossible, but with no real low speed control and very low wheel torque, it means you'll need to attack many obstacles at much higher speed, which is likely to break more stuff.

[300bhp/ton]

It's also worth thinking about recovery points too and some form of tow rope. It would be highly irresponsible to a vehicle highly likely to get stuck without any thought or provision to getting it out again - safely!

[Rich n Em]

Looking into it more, it seems my little Rav is only FWD!!

I think I'll pass.

Thanks for the advice chaps.

[eltax91]

Rich n Em said:

Looking into it more, it seems my little Rav is only FWD!!

I think I'll pass.

Thanks for the advice chaps.

You are still welcome to join me on an off road day (pay & play or lanes) in the Landy. If you get hooked and buy an off roader though, it's not my fault.