2012 Kia Soul SVO Build

[Autism Family Travels]

Awesome hamster car brother! There is a company called Spaccer (I think) who makes lift spacers for most every vehicle. If you need a little boost underneath. Also, I have a home in Zephyrhills not far from you! I travel there when I can. It will be much less often now since I have a new "real" job. That rig is so cool....Shows that you do not need anything crazy to have adventures in. Most trails and fire roads can be handled with a very normal car these days. Hence the reason I sold my wrangler and kept my patriot and getting a new kia niro to fill the gap.

 

[Autism Family Travels]

I like your little adventure moble. I know you have limitations on the places you can take it but what a economical way to see the country. My wife and I are looking to get a Rave-4 in the future so we can road trip around the country. I am building a teardrop style trailer for behind my off road rig and am hoping that when it's done It weighs in under 2-k fully loaded cause the adventure package on the Rave-4 has a towing capacity of 3-k. You taking something small and using it the way you are is great! How fun, thanks for sharing.

I am not sure if they are available in the states, but in Canada they have a Rav 4 team trails edition which has a few goodies for trail exploring. Have a look!

 

[Joey83]

That company (Spaccer) is the one I'm considering buying a liftkit from.

 

[MtnSoul89]

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Thanks for the inspiration! Working on my 2016 Soul. Picked up some 215/65r16s and steel wheels today! Loving the look.

 

[Joey83]

My dad had one of those, worst car I've ever driven!

 

[AlOrMi]

My dad had one of those, worst car I've ever driven!

Unnecessary comment. Let’s keep it positive!

 

[Joey83]

Unnecessary comment. Let’s keep it positive!

Will do!

 

[Autism Family Travels]

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Thanks for the inspiration! Working on my 2016 Soul. Picked up some 215/65r16s and steel wheels today! Loving the look.

Awesome rig.

Now, give that hamster some stilts and get a spaccer lift for it!!!!

 

[btedesign]

Awesome rig.

Now, give that hamster some stilts and get a spaccer lift for it!!!!

One of the reasons I recently traded it in was because I couldn't get it higher. The options on the market for lifting the first generation are non-existent. Also the dealership traded me even up for an old Land cruiser!

I like your soul as well. Keep up the good work. The Rig will get you down more trails than you can imagine!

 

[Overland_Mitsu]

One of the reasons I recently traded it in was because I couldn't get it higher. The options on the market for lifting the first generation are non-existent. Also the dealership traded me even up for an old Land cruiser!

I like your soul as well. Keep up the good work. The Rig will get you down more trails than you can imagine!

Wait, so you no longer have your Kia? Went back a few pages but didn’t see anything about the new Rover!

 

[btedesign]

Nope, the Kia is gone. It was a relatively recent thing. The opportunity presented itself, and I had to take it. The Kia was great, but I was outgrowing it and needed more space and the need for 4wd was becoming more of a priority. So I traded it in as an even swap for a 2000 LX470 that has been in the shop getting a new transmission for the past few weeks, once that is done it goes back into the shop for the timing, then it will be time to get back out on the road.

 

[Joey83]

The LX470 looks great. :)

 

[islandseekr]

Time to post some build updates. We have been on the road a lot so not much has happened. We just put in a goal zero 150 to keep camp lights up and running as well as the electrical to keep the little battery charged. I decided to do something the manufacturer told me was impossible and added the third and rear cross bar. After doing that I moved the RTT to the rear and turned the RTT so it unfolds off the back instead of the sides. Today I also installed the awning on the passenger side and I am debating buying one for the driver side as well since the tent isn't in the way. Also the front of the roof has left me with enough room to add a 2' basket and a slide it 100watt solar panel.

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Hello, with the tent config on the back, what did you do with the rear mounted antenna?

 

[Raul B]

Love this build. Recently I took my Ford escape out on a trip with some friends because my f150 is still in the fab shop getting some work done. I actually really enjoyed taking the lil car out to the mountains. It is completely stock with street tires but it did great.

It is tech a "4wd" but no way to switch it to low ect Ect. So in essence it's a Awd system and the car controls it. I slept in the back of mine but it had me thinking of a small RTT for it. The issue I found is that the factory bars that are installed are onky rated for 150lbs.

Oh yah I also enjoyed the almost 30mpg too :) View attachment 94583

 

[Glitteringbicycle]

No, you didn't read that wrong. Why am I building out this little hampster-mobile and making it do things no one has ever intended?! I want to prove something! I want to show people that there is absolutely no reason they can't get out and explore. I teach automotive tech and sales every day and one of the things I hear the most is "it's a great car but there is no 4wd". This is true, the car has its limitations and won't go some places a Land Cruiser will. But not having all four wheels powered can't be the reason these people sit in front of the TV all day wishing they could get out but couldn't afford to. So here is what I am up to. Over the next few months,3 I will be turning my old Kia Soul into an overland rig. At the end of August my wife, two of my good friends and myself will be taking a trip from Tampa FL, to Denver CO, to the Red Wood Forest, down to Yellow Stone, over to the Grand Canyon, through New Orleans and back to home in Lakeland FL. So here is the list of things that must get done asap.

- RTT - Done
- 15 wheels - Done
- Yoko Geo's 215/65 15 A/T tires - Done
- Yeti 150 - Done
- Renorgy 50w Solar Panel- Done
- Lowered rear floor with rear seat delete - Done
- Rtic 65 w/ custom lock and custom interior mount - Done
- Front Roof Basket - Done
- Rear 3rd Roof bar, Yakima - Done
- GoPro mounts - Done

Probably a little late in replying to this, what brand rooftop tent did you use? Is your Kia still running in 2025? How did the tires work out?