This 2″ Lifted Chevy Equinox is a Wild FWD Off-road Crossover Build

Since off-roading doesn’t always involve crawling through massive rocks, fording a 3-foot deep creek and crossing deep mud puddles, choosing a traditional 4×4 isn’t really a necessity, especially if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle due to the fuel consumption, comfort, price, and other things. That’s why crossovers become the weapon of choice for many people with an active lifestyle who want to do some off-road stuff…but usually their choice falls on something other than a Chevy Equinox.

Being very similar to the more widespread Toyota RAV4 and CRV, the Equinox has the needed space and size to a be a versatile vehicle, but only a handful of the owners look at them from this perspective.

Marquis, the owner of this lifted Chevy Equinox, decided to take it even further and outfitted this crossover for more advanced off-road adventures. Read on to find out what modifications he made to boost its capabilities to the max!

The Build

The absence of the four-wheel-drive puts some serious limitations on the vehicle’s off-road capabilities. If you’ve ever driven such cars on the low traction surfaces, you know for sure that getting stuck isn’t that difficult, especially when the ground clearance is low. Knowing that it’s inevitable, Marcus decided to take care of the self recovery options first.

One thing that you can rely on beside traction boards is certainly the winch. Being quite a radical add-on, it required a good bit of creativity to be installed on a reagular unibody crossover. To do this, Marus used a custom winch mounting plate welded directly to the frame of the vehicle.

Suspension Lift

Next step was certainly the improvement of the ground clearance. The GR Lite Lift Kit from Flatout Suspension added the so much needed height increase to overcome larger obstacles and fit slightly oversized all terrain tires. What I like about this particular lift is that it gave a noticeable bump in the ground clearance without dramatically changing the suspension geometry (which would put more stress on the driveshafts).

To me, it’s impressive how these relatively simple modifications transform the vehicle’s capability and appearance without affecting its everyday driveability. The cross-drilled rotors and ceramic pads are a thoughtful addition too, giving adequate stopping power to the slightly oversized off-road wheels.

Wheels

Speaking of wheels, Marquis decided to stick with the factory rims and wrap them in some beefier 255/65R17 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires that offer a significant upgrade in terms of traction. These all-terrains provide the needed grip for loose surfaces and offer a bit more space to the side profile in cas if the airing down is needed. Behind the wheel spokes you can notice the MGP Caliper Covers provide painted in bright red color to match other accessories throughout the car.

Exterior

As you noticed the exterior of this Chevy crossover wasn’t left without attention. The Apex Roof Rack paired with the Fluxotine Platform Roof Rack creates a convenient storage space for gear and accessories. Yescom Rooftop Side Tent Shade that provides additional protection from the elements when the weather becomes harsh.

Up on the back is the Wilco Hitchgate Solo in the high clearance configuration that’s holding a full-size spare and keeping that departure angle high. Practical additions like the AVS In-Channel Rain Guards and Hood Shield Deflectors add some more protection from dust and debris, while the removal of the front valance improves the approach angle.

Lightning

The lighting setup on this Equinox is represented by the combo of 32-inch Nilight LED Bar for night trail riding, Nilight AMBER LED Pod Lights for normal visibility in foggy or dusty conditions and the Nilight LED Flood Lights in red that function as auxiliary lighting and maintain the red accent theme throughout the vehicle.

For everyday driving, the ACANII Black Upgrade LED Headlights took the place of the factory units, providing increased brightness and that custom look. Inside, the OPT7 Aura Pro Light Kit adds ambient lighting and creates the unique atmosphere during night drives.

Interior

The interior mods are also focused on improving versatility and comfort during off-road adventures. The Wolfbox G930 4K Dashcam paired with a hardwire kit provides continuous recording for documenting trail rides.

The Cobra Mini 19 radio ensures communication with the trail mates in the middle where cellular service isn’t available. For pet comfort, the Travall Pet Barrier offers a safe way to bring them along in case of need. WeatherTech Custom Floor Mats provide superior protection against mud and debris, while red-colored Remin Dash Kit adds a custom touch and continues the black-red color theme.

List of Modifications

Suspension

• Flatout Suspension GR Lite Lift Kit

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Recovery

• AUTMATCH D-Ring Shackles (Red)
• 255/65r17 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W (Spare)
• Custom winch plate (welded to subframe)
• Rugcel 13k Winch
• Traction Boards (Red)

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Interior

• Wolfbox G930 4K Dashcam
• Cobra Mini 19
• OPT7 Aura Pro Light Kit
• Travall Pet Barrier
• WeatherTech Custom Floor Mats
• Remin Dash Kit (Full Kit/Red)
• Dash Cam Hardwire Kit

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Exterior

• AVS In-Channel Rain Guards
• AVS Hood Shield Deflectors
• Yescom Awning 6′ 7″ x 8′ 2″ Vehicle Rooftop Side Tent Shade
• Apex Roof Rack
• Fluxotine Platform Roof Rack
• Wilco Hitchgate Solo (High clearance)
• “Maximum Effort” Decal
• “Overland” Badge
• Fenderwall Trim
• Front valance delete

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Lights & Extra

• Nilight LED Bar 32 inch
• Nilight AMBER LED Pod Lights
• Nilight LED Flood Lights (Red)
• ACANII Black Upgrade LED Headlights

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Tires & Wheels

• Factory Rims (Spray painted bed liner Black)
• 255/65r17 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W
• 2” hub-centric wheels spacers
• MGP Caliper Covers (Red)

Owner’s Insight

Why did you choose an Equinox for your off-road project?

– It was my first car that I bought and I wanted to push it to the limits of what it’s capable of since it’s a FWD.

How does it compare to other vehicles you’ve driven off-road?

– Honestly It compares fairly well to other off road rigs and knowing how to drive in different conditions helps.

What was the most difficult part of the build?

– The most difficult part was finding the right lift so I could off road in most conditions.

What do you like the most about your Equinox?

– What I like most is my FLATOUT Suspension GR Lite lift kit. It’s been a game changer in my off-road experience and has allowed me to run trails that I otherwise would’ve gotten stuck on with the higher ground clearance.

Conclusion

Based on our off-road capability rating, this lifted Chevy Equinox build scores approximately 20 out of 70 maximum points (10 points for FWD with suspension lift and larger tires, and 10 points for the recovery equipment and body protection).

This is the first Chevy Equinox off-road build we’ve ever featured, emphasising a platform that doesn’t get the attention it really deserves despite being just as good of a crossover as the more popular models like the Forester and Rav4.

Marquis pioneered numerous modifications on this unconventional platform, which took much more time and effort than putting together another cookie-cutter build with readily available accessories. We strongly believe that his project will inspire other Equinox owners to venture beyond pavement and discover the surprising capabilities of their vehicle on local trails.