Influencer II
SVO ....Small Vehicle Overlanding
- Thread starter Luis Merlo
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- suv small vehicle
Influencer II
Did you get a chance to work this out and hook up solar?
I am on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to my Overlanding platform, but I absolutely love reading this thread. So cool to see how so many of you can successfully and happily overland in these smaller vehicles. So much ingenuity, space management, innovation, and even sacrifice goes into making these tiny platforms work and 99% of the time at the same level as a lot of these larger vehicles. Kudos to everyone in this thread and keep the posts coming as some of us full size guys secretly love this thread.
Ok, I started loading up the car for a weekend camping trip to bring in the new year. Let us see how much I will be able to organise it out over the week. Still pending are the electronics, food and clothes.
The left and right have some "wasted" space which could be utilised for certain things. Any suggestions on that?
Also: Contemplating taking along a fridge, but I'll have to borrow that from a friend to see if it is something I will want for the long run.
When I started and how it looks now.
Will post the final image when we are finally out on the road. But, a busy week at work coming up.
The left and right have some "wasted" space which could be utilised for certain things. Any suggestions on that?
Also: Contemplating taking along a fridge, but I'll have to borrow that from a friend to see if it is something I will want for the long run.
When I started and how it looks now.
Will post the final image when we are finally out on the road. But, a busy week at work coming up.
Influencer II
20 amp regulator fitted ($20 Ebay) and 80 watt foldable solar panel ($100 deliverd / Ebay)...charges the battery well...I have yet to get a small fridge...keep you posted mate !
Ive loved reading all of these posts. Makes me so happy that I've got my Outback and that my plan to build a Subaru Baja will totally work for your average tracks.
Can I ask you guys a quick question though. How much ground clearance do you guys have on your Small trucks.
Can I ask you guys a quick question though. How much ground clearance do you guys have on your Small trucks.
Enthusiast III
I have mine at the stock height still but I mostly use my rig for touring and going down service roads
#TRD #Rav4
I have 205mm. No additional lift related upgrades (as yet).
Member III
Thanks! I used to have a 2013 Tacoma, and a F150 before that. I am shrinking LOL! Now that I am in a very small 4x4 (Isuzu Vehicross) space management is very important. The smaller size let’s me fit down even tighter trails without worrying quite so much about body damage. I find I can actually get to more places than I ever could in my Tacoma, and way more than the Ford. I would say the only real sacrifice I have made is aftermarket support. Some things just are not available for smaller vehicles, so there is more custom fabrication work to be done, winch mounts being the biggest. After having the Vehicross, If (when) I change vehicles again I will probably get a Jeep. Once you get used to a short wheel base, and how much it improves off-road performance, there really is no goin back to a full size.
Member II
How do you like the vehicross? I've always liked that vehicle and want one but never could find one when I was in the market. Any tips or gotchas to look out for?
Sent from my HTC6545LVW using OB Talk mobile app
Member III
There are a couple of gotcha’s. #1 would be the power windows. The doors interior panel is thin, causing the track to not line up with the window track. Takes a bit of work to correct it so you can roll the windows up. #2 would body/trim pieces can be hard to find. You can order them from Japan, but it’s a bit pricey. I spent $75 on a window weather strip for the passenger door. Overall though, it’s an amazing little vehicle. ARB makes suspension for it as well as air lockers. The factory shocks are remote reservoir and are amazing once they are rebuilt (most are worn out after nearly 20 years). Buying mechanical parts is easy and cheap. Various computers can be expensive, but generally don’t go bad. Of course, as with any 29 year old vehicle, you have to watch out for rust.
Don’t buy one unless you know your way around a tool box. Most mechanics have no idea about it and will over charge even though the entire drivetrain is made by GM.
If you are really curious, check out Vehicross dot info. It’s a forum that is loaded with info. There is also a Facebook page for it.
Look into the Jeep Renegade if your interested in Jeeps. The fam and I have used ours quite successfully.
Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
Guess I will throw in here too...with another Kia!
Course, older, and more...well, rugged.
2001 Sportage. 4x4, etc. Only thing I have really done with it so far, was put on 235/70 R15 Grabber AT/2s. I used to live on Vancouver island, and it handled the forestry roads without a problem.
With my move to Edmonton, I decided to get rid of the roof basket, as I am currently living 60km from work, and at 120 kph, it was killing my fuel economy (Also sold the 10' canoe before I left). I have put on a hitch, but have been finding that it digs into the ground pretty easily. Also need to replace...basically all of my gear. Camping chairs are way too bulky, and all my campting equipment is extremely ill-organized or bulky.
I have a lot of plans for things to do for it, such as recovery points, cause....it really doesn't come with any. I would love to replace the bumpers, to have better access to recovery points primarily, but would want them out of aluminum as I feel steel would really weigh it down too much.
For recovery I did get an overkill comealong, the More Power Puller ( https://www.wyeth-scott.com ), but I need more kit for it to be really useful, like....shackles. So much to do, so little money to do it with.
Course, older, and more...well, rugged.
2001 Sportage. 4x4, etc. Only thing I have really done with it so far, was put on 235/70 R15 Grabber AT/2s. I used to live on Vancouver island, and it handled the forestry roads without a problem.
With my move to Edmonton, I decided to get rid of the roof basket, as I am currently living 60km from work, and at 120 kph, it was killing my fuel economy (Also sold the 10' canoe before I left). I have put on a hitch, but have been finding that it digs into the ground pretty easily. Also need to replace...basically all of my gear. Camping chairs are way too bulky, and all my campting equipment is extremely ill-organized or bulky.
I have a lot of plans for things to do for it, such as recovery points, cause....it really doesn't come with any. I would love to replace the bumpers, to have better access to recovery points primarily, but would want them out of aluminum as I feel steel would really weigh it down too much.
For recovery I did get an overkill comealong, the More Power Puller ( https://www.wyeth-scott.com ), but I need more kit for it to be really useful, like....shackles. So much to do, so little money to do it with.
Attachments
Welcome to the SVO thread. That canoe seems to have really weighed down the car.
2014 Rav4 AWD at Big Shell Beach PINS
Sleeping platform and storage.
Needs a lift and skid plate to follow the trails.
Sleeping platform and storage.
Needs a lift and skid plate to follow the trails.
Influencer II
Hey all!
I do believe I belong on this thread.
I have a 2017 Chevy Trax. Its about the same size as a Suby Crosstrek or Jeep Renegade.
I'm still in the works of building and setting up the interior. This is also my daily driver so I have a bit of a challenge with making everything work with day to day driving and overlanding.
Glad to see pics on some ideas!
And I feel like I'm the only Trax out there too!
check my instagram if you wanna see what I have in the works so far @adventure_awd
I do believe I belong on this thread.
I have a 2017 Chevy Trax. Its about the same size as a Suby Crosstrek or Jeep Renegade.
I'm still in the works of building and setting up the interior. This is also my daily driver so I have a bit of a challenge with making everything work with day to day driving and overlanding.
Glad to see pics on some ideas!
And I feel like I'm the only Trax out there too!
check my instagram if you wanna see what I have in the works so far @adventure_awd
Nah, just hard parking it like an idiot on that berm behind it.
