WHAT’S this? A RAV4 in 4X4 Australia magazine? Hold up, that’s not a real 4x4!
True, the RAV4 falls directly into the realm of light-duty SUV and is not the usual fare for these pages, but this RAV benefits from a few touring mods to help it traverse some rougher tracks.
I’m old enough to remember the early 2000s when compact light-duty SUVs like the RAV4, Subaru Forester and the Nissan X-Trail were turning the new-car-buying world on to SUVs, and the big 4x4 accessories brands were falling over themselves to create products for them. But they soon realised most buyers of SUVs are not four-wheel drivers and not the sort of folks to accessorise their vehicles for adventures … and the SUV products soon disappeared from their respective catalogues.
The growth in popularity of so-called ‘overlanding’ in the USA has seen a resurgence of kitted-up soft-roaders where the RAV4, Subaru Crosstrek and Hyundai Kona are popular candidates for adventure mods. This has seen the launch of a swag of new gear and accessories for these vehicles to help their owners explore further than the Walmart carpark.
While there’s been a small groundswell for similar builds here in Australia it’s nothing like that in the USA, but with Australian 4x4 accessories manufacturers producing products for the American market, it was inevitable that the gear would come here to suit local SUVs.
One such manufacturer doing big things in the USA is Ironman 4x4, and along with its gear for proper 4x4s, it has developed kit to suit vehicles like the RAV4. Much of that product development happens right here in Australia, so the RAV4 products to fit our local models are now available.
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
OUTBACK WATERING HOLES
SINCE OFF TRACK WINES WAS LAUNCHED, OWNERS ANNA AND BRETT FISHER HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 20,000KM UP, DOWN AND ACROSS AUSTRALIA SPRUIKING THEIR WINES-IN-A-CAN MADE FOR CAMPING. THEY DROPPED INTO PLENTY OF OUTBACK PUBS ALONG THE WAY AND THESE ARE THEIR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FAVOURITES
BIG COUNTRY
THE PILBARA IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF BIG COUNTRY, AND THERE IS PLENTY TO SEE, DO AND ENJOY IN THIS ANCIENT LANDSCAPE IN WA'S RUGGED NORTHWEST
ISLAND PARADISE
NEAR THE TOP OF THE BUCKET LIST FOR EVERY AUSSIE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVER, K'GARI IS PACKED WITH STUNNING HIGHLIGHTS AND BOASTS SOME OF THE BEST BEACH DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY
WEIGHTLIFTING
INCREASING THE GVM OF YOUR 4X4 SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN SHOULD NOT BE AVOIDED IF YOU NEED IT. WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS ON OUR FORD RANGER TO EXPLAIN HOW TO GET IT RIGHT
NOW HEAR THIS
THE CEL-FI GO MOBILE BOOSTER WILL KEEP EMAILS, MESSAGES AND CALLS COMING THROUGH TO YOUR DEVICES WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS HEARING CRICKETS
LOOKING BACK
A PAIR OF MSA 4X4 TOWING MIRRORS ENSURE WE ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND US WHEN WE HAVE A TRAILER HITCHED TO OUR MITSUBISHI TRITON
TRUCKIN' LIFE
CAN FORD AUSTRALIA'S NEW F-150 BE AN ACCOMPLISHED OFF-ROAD TOURING 4X4?
WHAT LURKS BENEATH
IT MAY LOOK LIKE A FAIRLY STANDARD (IF CLEAN) 80 SERIES, BUT DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER AND YOU'LL FIND A MONSTER BELOW THE SURFACE
EYE OF THE HURRICANE
RAM HAS DUMPED ITS HEMI V8FOR A SIX-CYLINDER, AND IT'S COMING TO AUSTRALIA
GETTING TANKED
GWM EXPANDS IT TANK 4X4 RANGE WITH THE LUXURIOUS TANK 500 WAGON