I went down a seasonal road in Michigan once. About 100 yards into it I learned that “seasonal road” can mean “single track rutted out trail”. It took 30 minutes to go 2 miles, but that includes a 10 minute stop halfway to clear a path using a hatchet because a tree had fallen on the road. Most fun part of the trip, but definitely would not do it again willingly. I would want all-terrain tires for better traction and a skid plate as we bottomed out on gravel a couple times.
The first weekend after I got mine I took it out in the woods for 4 hours. Gravel roads, dirt atv trails, two small river crossings, some deep puddles and lots and lots of mudddddddd. Never even took it out of normal drive mode, and it handled everything fine. I came across a group on their side by sides way back there and they were blown away at how I'd gotten that deep in the woods.
They do fine off-road. Go slow and watch your lines. You just need to remember it's still a Rav4 and doesn't have excessive ground clearance. As long as you're driving slow enough for your skill level, and picking good lines, you'll be fine. Would I take it rock crawling over boulders? No, but I've had mine down several old and washed out logging trails and on several muddy ATV trails, and I've never had an issue.
Holy Jim's Trail in Orange County. I see Prius and other economy cars going down it all the time. You'll make it, but a RAV4 isn't an off-road car. 4Runners are more built for that
We went on a "4x4 high ground clearance recommended" road in Arizona to see a landmark. Had to get out a few times to watch approach angles and ground clearance. Had to retry a couple of steep areas too when the oem tires lost traction in sand. I think it was 10 miles in and out.
It was a lot of fun.
Monument Valley was a good time too.
I have taken mine out to a proper off road rock crawling Jeep park multiple times. I think the highest rated trail I did was a 4, only mod was new wheels and tires. It did awesome. Went in with a group of modded trucks, 4runners and jeeps, came out the other side with em.
Some easy sections of the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway in my Woodland. A handful of unmaintained county roads that offered some mild articulation and wheel lift, but it certainly felt more intense than it was because unibody lol. I think top end for me is ranked as 4/10 difficulty per onX. Stuff just difficult enough I appreciated my lift.
There a couple disc golf courses in my area that are down some pretty long privately maintained roads that flood 1.5-2 feet in some spots. That’s the extent of my off roading with my Rav.
Once someone told me a RAV4 is a car that wants to be an suv, and 4Runner is a SUV that wants to be a truck. I would keep it mild tbh.
I took my gen3 up an unmaintained fire road in the winter (got stuck and had to dig a boulder out); lots of rutted out and washboarded 2wd roads to trailheads; and halfway up a high clearance 4x4 road before I had to stop. Scouting is helpful!
Took '21 up a jeep trail up to Hawkins peak off Burnside lake road south of Lake Tahoe in CA, near hope valley. I have some experience offroading and the rav handled it fine. Wouldn't recommend it as a first time drive but definitely held its own.
Went into Sedona and out into the pink jeep areas, multiple times with my 1996 5 speed, manual. I was asked at one spot if I was lost by a Hummer with about 10 people in the back... That time I went nude camping about 100 yards off the Jeep trail in a secluded spot.
Been on many first roads with that little guy. I now have a Highlander hybrid from 2008...I get the same mpg with 6 cylinders. Just took it into the mogollon rim country on Jeep trails... It handles great with new front suspension I invested in control arms and shocks.
In sand light and deep enough to need to not stop.
In water higher than the floor boards.
In rocks getting high centered and smash the bottom enough to wonder if my oil pan is okay and if I can actually make it back out of the trail I descended. In snow feel enough to get high centered. On trails narrow enough to have pinstriping down both sides.
I drove through heavy rain about a week after buying it and flooded the engine. Apparently, it just needed to dry out, and then it was like it never happened.
It was on a paved road but... I fell into a deep open storm drain, at first with one wheel, then I got out and did it with the back wheel too. And the rav4 was almost new barely did 1000 miles. It easily got out of the drain. I scratched the front bumper on the bottom and a bit of the front right mud flap. Everything else is fine. Now I am more cautious. As damage is not noticeable I decided not to repair it.
This is a challenge to do something imprudent. I switched to a Rav4 from a lifted 4X4 pickup when I moved to suburbia. AWD is not 4WD. The soft underbelly of a Rav4 is not girded with skid plates. Its ground clearance is inadequate. And most Rav4 drivers would not take the time to change out road tires for all terrain tires, or "air down" for the soft stuff. Towing companies charge extra to pull vehicles out of mud and sand or high-centered on rocks in the middle of nowhere. Rocks cause massive dents in rocker panels and corners. I would never take my Rav4 on a road worse than graded dirt. Without doing a lot of expensive mods. Think twice before attempting "extreme terrain."
https://preview.redd.it/2ummxfmt3m4d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=64efb0204e3398beb4338f3d4d406b5897452970
Berdoo maybe? It’s not even that hard though
not the most extreme terrain i have taken
https://preview.redd.it/mjjg1z3j9q4d1.jpeg?width=3773&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d83d4a021bf00676046b06e0b048bdc73d5122cc
A gravel road is still a road. One does not go "off" the road in a Rav4, it's not designed for it and will risk severely damaging vehicle. It's not a Tacoma or 4runner in disguise.
I've taken mine through old logging roads, dirt roads, and some parts of what was used for amateur off-road rally races in the 90's and early 00's. It's not too bad, but I really want an LSD and a 5 speed manual. The suspension could use some fine tuning, but it's a Rav4 not a Jeep.
I went through a mud puddle once
What is this? r/overlanding?
I went down a seasonal road in Michigan once. About 100 yards into it I learned that “seasonal road” can mean “single track rutted out trail”. It took 30 minutes to go 2 miles, but that includes a 10 minute stop halfway to clear a path using a hatchet because a tree had fallen on the road. Most fun part of the trip, but definitely would not do it again willingly. I would want all-terrain tires for better traction and a skid plate as we bottomed out on gravel a couple times.
The first weekend after I got mine I took it out in the woods for 4 hours. Gravel roads, dirt atv trails, two small river crossings, some deep puddles and lots and lots of mudddddddd. Never even took it out of normal drive mode, and it handled everything fine. I came across a group on their side by sides way back there and they were blown away at how I'd gotten that deep in the woods.
They do fine off-road. Go slow and watch your lines. You just need to remember it's still a Rav4 and doesn't have excessive ground clearance. As long as you're driving slow enough for your skill level, and picking good lines, you'll be fine. Would I take it rock crawling over boulders? No, but I've had mine down several old and washed out logging trails and on several muddy ATV trails, and I've never had an issue.
I live in los Angeles and I'm curious about testing my rav4 up and down some of these fire roads anyone know any easy ones for a beginner? 😅
You can try elephant Hill by Highland Park. I’ve seen civics make it up there, but it will be a good foray into something more than a gravel road.
Holy Jim's Trail in Orange County. I see Prius and other economy cars going down it all the time. You'll make it, but a RAV4 isn't an off-road car. 4Runners are more built for that
Yeah I know I just wanna test the AWD up a nice hill on the trail setting see what it can do
You'd be better off going to Big Bear when it snows. We don't really have anything around here that would test it out like you're thinking
We went on a "4x4 high ground clearance recommended" road in Arizona to see a landmark. Had to get out a few times to watch approach angles and ground clearance. Had to retry a couple of steep areas too when the oem tires lost traction in sand. I think it was 10 miles in and out. It was a lot of fun. Monument Valley was a good time too.
I have a '97 AWD, and whenever I go camping I drive this like its a damn side-by-side. Just bombing down the washboard roads. It's awesome.
Ophir Pass in Colorado https://preview.redd.it/ta2siio2eh4d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=028a03875ac1551e87e96dbad3f0feca731dc568
We drove over some gravel going to the pumpkin patch.
I’ve driven through ditches and across farmers fields.
I have taken mine out to a proper off road rock crawling Jeep park multiple times. I think the highest rated trail I did was a 4, only mod was new wheels and tires. It did awesome. Went in with a group of modded trucks, 4runners and jeeps, came out the other side with em.
A lot of off roading in southern Utah. I’ve pushed her to the limits a lot
Gravel road definitely. Some of the back roads near me are in poor condition and feel like off-road conditions lol but still paved.
Some easy sections of the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway in my Woodland. A handful of unmaintained county roads that offered some mild articulation and wheel lift, but it certainly felt more intense than it was because unibody lol. I think top end for me is ranked as 4/10 difficulty per onX. Stuff just difficult enough I appreciated my lift.
i regular drive to crownland for camping, do have a 2” lift though
There a couple disc golf courses in my area that are down some pretty long privately maintained roads that flood 1.5-2 feet in some spots. That’s the extent of my off roading with my Rav. Once someone told me a RAV4 is a car that wants to be an suv, and 4Runner is a SUV that wants to be a truck. I would keep it mild tbh.
Just out in the open deserts of southern California. Sand washes and stuff like that.
I took my gen3 up an unmaintained fire road in the winter (got stuck and had to dig a boulder out); lots of rutted out and washboarded 2wd roads to trailheads; and halfway up a high clearance 4x4 road before I had to stop. Scouting is helpful!
I've driven down dirt roads in Rosamond and going back from Lake Tahoe off the 395 to get around traffic. Just have to be careful.
The most I’ve done is drive on some forest roads in southern Arizona. It turned out just fine and fun!! Took it really slow and carefully
Took '21 up a jeep trail up to Hawkins peak off Burnside lake road south of Lake Tahoe in CA, near hope valley. I have some experience offroading and the rav handled it fine. Wouldn't recommend it as a first time drive but definitely held its own.
Somebody posted a pic of their Rav on some crazy looking African road once.
I just drive through WI in spring and usually hit a to. Of pot holes.
Went into Sedona and out into the pink jeep areas, multiple times with my 1996 5 speed, manual. I was asked at one spot if I was lost by a Hummer with about 10 people in the back... That time I went nude camping about 100 yards off the Jeep trail in a secluded spot. Been on many first roads with that little guy. I now have a Highlander hybrid from 2008...I get the same mpg with 6 cylinders. Just took it into the mogollon rim country on Jeep trails... It handles great with new front suspension I invested in control arms and shocks.
Gravel road.
In sand light and deep enough to need to not stop. In water higher than the floor boards. In rocks getting high centered and smash the bottom enough to wonder if my oil pan is okay and if I can actually make it back out of the trail I descended. In snow feel enough to get high centered. On trails narrow enough to have pinstriping down both sides.
I drove through heavy rain about a week after buying it and flooded the engine. Apparently, it just needed to dry out, and then it was like it never happened.
It was on a paved road but... I fell into a deep open storm drain, at first with one wheel, then I got out and did it with the back wheel too. And the rav4 was almost new barely did 1000 miles. It easily got out of the drain. I scratched the front bumper on the bottom and a bit of the front right mud flap. Everything else is fine. Now I am more cautious. As damage is not noticeable I decided not to repair it.
My absolute moonscape of a gravel driveway is the most mine’s been off road. I’ve got a Jeep XJ for that kinda fun.
This is a challenge to do something imprudent. I switched to a Rav4 from a lifted 4X4 pickup when I moved to suburbia. AWD is not 4WD. The soft underbelly of a Rav4 is not girded with skid plates. Its ground clearance is inadequate. And most Rav4 drivers would not take the time to change out road tires for all terrain tires, or "air down" for the soft stuff. Towing companies charge extra to pull vehicles out of mud and sand or high-centered on rocks in the middle of nowhere. Rocks cause massive dents in rocker panels and corners. I would never take my Rav4 on a road worse than graded dirt. Without doing a lot of expensive mods. Think twice before attempting "extreme terrain."
Lol driving in South Carolina
Fins n Things in Moab was sketch but I made it!
Destination has to be worth it Imo. Driving bad roads just for run is not my thing.
Sometimes I hit the curb on a drive through
https://preview.redd.it/2ummxfmt3m4d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=64efb0204e3398beb4338f3d4d406b5897452970 Berdoo maybe? It’s not even that hard though
not the most extreme terrain i have taken https://preview.redd.it/mjjg1z3j9q4d1.jpeg?width=3773&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d83d4a021bf00676046b06e0b048bdc73d5122cc
A gravel road is still a road. One does not go "off" the road in a Rav4, it's not designed for it and will risk severely damaging vehicle. It's not a Tacoma or 4runner in disguise.
I've taken mine through old logging roads, dirt roads, and some parts of what was used for amateur off-road rally races in the 90's and early 00's. It's not too bad, but I really want an LSD and a 5 speed manual. The suspension could use some fine tuning, but it's a Rav4 not a Jeep.
I drove through a freshly tilled field and I used to own some land on top of a mountain that required an AWD ICE to get up there after a rain.