Influencer II
SVO ....Small Vehicle Overlanding
- Thread starter Luis Merlo
- Start date
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- suv small vehicle
Influencer II
When I bought mine (january 2017) vs yesterday (Mods will be few and far between for now as I'm saving up for a roadtrip next year).
Bil_32 by Joachim Sandven, on Flickr
DSC00871 by Joachim Sandven, on Flickr
Bil_32 by Joachim Sandven, on FlickrDSC00871 by Joachim Sandven, on Flickr
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Enthusiast III
@Joey83 I've always liked that platform. It came with a real 4wd (even though they call it awd) and its like taking a VW GTI into the woods because they are so agile. I have been heavily debating getting an old Sorento because of this. Your looks really good, tastefully done so far.
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No pics, but a friend of mine did this last summer. She did a 2 week nation park tour in her 07 Toyota YARIS. She mostly tent camped, but she DID have the ability via a specially designed inflatable mattress she bought to sleep in the rear seat.
The car is getting old though, so she's currently looking for a used 5th gen T4R that's not stupid money. Unfortunately those don't seem to exist.
The car is getting old though, so she's currently looking for a used 5th gen T4R that's not stupid money. Unfortunately those don't seem to exist.
Enthusiast III
Question, I am considering a rooftop tent for the Kia Soul. My concern is making it top heavy. Thoughts?
Look into Frontrunner, I have one on my Rogue. It weighs about 83 pounds. It is one of the lightest full featured, highly respected RTT available.
Enthusiast III
Influencer II
TJ driver here, so it’s small but probably not what this thread means by small... all I know is the with my wife and I and our dog on trips, space is at a premium. We have to overland with a bit of a backpacking mentality. It’s a Rubicon so it takes me wherever I ask it to as long as I keep the gas flowing.... (16mpg and dropping with every accessory I bolt to the exterior)
My cousin had a 1st gen RAV4 a few years back that would have been perfect for this thread, I’ll have to see if I can dig up a photo or two. It had a 2” Old Man Emu lift and we stuffed some 235/75r15 KM2s under it. That car was so much fun. The first gen RAV4 was built on the Celica platform and it showed. You could throw that thing around like a rally car or bomb it over whoops better than any Wrangler out there. It struggled in terrain that required a lifted tire or two but as long as it had traction on all four wheels it was unstoppable.
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My cousin had a 1st gen RAV4 a few years back that would have been perfect for this thread, I’ll have to see if I can dig up a photo or two. It had a 2” Old Man Emu lift and we stuffed some 235/75r15 KM2s under it. That car was so much fun. The first gen RAV4 was built on the Celica platform and it showed. You could throw that thing around like a rally car or bomb it over whoops better than any Wrangler out there. It struggled in terrain that required a lifted tire or two but as long as it had traction on all four wheels it was unstoppable.
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I’ve got a TJ as well and there’s 4 of us (wife and 2 kids). Roof rack made the difference for us. Here’s an old pic, I’ve improved our setup since this photo, but space is always a challenge. I agree that a backpacking mentality helps.
Influencer II
Contributor II
Fine job on making use of what you have available, perhaps I may use some of your ideas in my Subaru. Thanks.
Contributor II
Small and outfitted right is perfect. More room means more stuff witch is not always good or "price sensitive"
I find this to be more like a law of nature, I could not agree more.
I find this to be more like a law of nature, I could not agree more.
HA! I always thought these might make a decent little offroader. But I'd be worried about finding parts for them (even basic suspension stuff if things were to break)Anyone go old school and try something like the 2 door AWD AMC Eagles? Excellent ground clearance, low center of gravity and short wheel base, not sure on mpg though.
or the 4 door version
Yeah I am an stuck in the past :(.
My 1958 fc-170 build in progress is a 103" wheel base factory so that puts it in the SVO category as its shorter than a Jeep compass or kia sportage. But I'll bow out as it has a 9 ft bed so storage isn't an issue.
I'm going down tomorrow to hopefully pick up my SVO rig. A Turbo Subaru Baja. Heres to hoping they'll take what im gonna offer them.
Influencer II
Contributor II
That sounds like a cool vehicle, I was just remarking to my wife how it would be cool to have a Baja to go along with the Forester. Good luck.
I have a cousin who still has his, and was the orginial owner.
Well They took my offer and I've now got a Baja! Needs a bit of fixin up but I think she's gonna make a fine overlander
