4th Gen Toyota Rav4 Adventure Off-road Build
Being a big fan of modified off-road vehicles, I’m always excited to search for interesting projects to showcase here on Offroadium. One of the vehicles I stumbled upon during content planning last week was this 2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure by automotive photographer My Le.
Except for the wheels and a few subtle upgrades, it didn’t have many noticeable modifications like body armor, lifts, or overlanding gear packed on the roof, but it did have the presence of an adventure vehicle. Besides, it’s one of the few fourth-generation RAV4s I’ve seen modified for off-road use, which made it an ideal candidate for a feature.
Another good reason for picking this particular RAV4 was the fact that it’s actually an off-road dedicated Adventure package, which features revised aesthetics, all-wheel drive, improved towing capacity (with more capable radiators), wide fender flares, rocker guards, and even a factory lift. First introduced to the market in 2017 as a 2018 model, it immediately achieved noticeable market success, influencing the appearance of the Adventure and TRD Off-Road versions of future generation RAV4s.
2018 Toyota Rav4 Adventure Brochure
It’s time to get off the beaten path and discover more good times with the new RAV4 Adventure grade. Hearty 18-in. 5-spoke Black alloy wheels, larger overfender flares and pronounced rocker panel guards all come standard on the Adventure grade, ready to help you take on any trip. When it’s time to get away, integrated black roof rails help you bring your gear along for the ride.
Owner’s insight
I chose this model because I was starting to do longer road trips and needed a car that was big enough (but not too big) to take on long journeys and sleep in. This was the perfect choice, as my family had also owned many Toyotas previously. One of my main reasons was the introduction of the Adventure trim, which added some cosmetic additions that caught my eye over a standard RAV4. At the time, that made it stand out just a bit more.
What I like about it is how simple and basic it was. It doesn’t have a lot of features, but it had enough safety tech to keep it practical. My favorite thing would be that it still had basic physical buttons and dials inside and cloth seats, which I love. It’s not a powerful car by any means and it struggles going up hills, but I always feel connected to it without a lot of tech getting in the way. It was basically fill up and adventure on. Little to no maintenance besides oil changes. To this day, I regret trading it in. I am definitely going to buy another one of the same year and model in the near future.
I kept my build very simple with minor changes to keep it as OEM+ as possible. Since I put a lot of miles on it, I didn’t want to reduce the lifespan of any parts by making modifications to the structure or components of the vehicle. I’m very satisfied with how it looked before I traded it in, and I’m proud that it was still unique enough to be recognized as that one 4th gen RAV4.
The Build
Compared to the standard vehicle, it has the basic set of features required to venture off the beaten path, so its owner didn’t have to change much to take on his adventures, but the factory 18″ wheels definitely had to go.
Tires
To improve traction on rough terrain and enhance the off-road aesthetics, My decided to install a set of all-terrain tires sized 235/70R16 that are slightly bigger compared to the stock 235/55R18. While sacrificing on-road handling and stability, these tires allowed him to mitigate the imperfections of country roads and provide more space to air down in the most difficult situations thanks to their taller profile.
Wheels
The wheel choice was set to bronze 16×8″ MST Time Attack wheels with a sporty step lip and 6-spoke design that perfectly suited the overall look of the vehicle.
Exterior mods
To make his RAV4 even more suitable for road trips away from paved roads, My had to improve a few more aspects of the vehicle overlooked by Toyota engineers. Low-hanging and unprotected elements of the undercarriage are easy victims of stones, branches, and other debris, and this is where the aftermarket low-profile exhaust pipe and skid plates designed by LP Aventure became handy.
Rally Armor mud flaps were installed on all 4 corners to protect the sides of the crossover from dirt and debris thrown by the larger all-terrain tires. Plus, they add a few points to the overall beefy look of the RAV4.
Just like with many similar crossovers and SUVs, the cargo space needed to be improved, especially if you prefer to sleep in the vehicle instead of climbing a ladder onto a roof-top tent. Since that spot was unoccupied, a Thule Force XT cargo box took the roof-top space, offering an extra 16 cu ft of storage space.
List of Mods & Upgrades
Wheels
- 16×8″ MST Time Attack wheels
- 235/70/16 All terrain Tires
Lift
- Non-lifted
Exterior Mods
- LP Aventure low profile front exhaust pipe
- LP Aventure skid plate
- Rally Amor mud flaps
- Thule Force XT cargo box
Conclusion
This 2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure showcases a thoughtful approach to off-road modification, balancing factory capabilities with carefully chosen upgrades. The owner, My Le, enhanced the vehicle’s off-road performance and aesthetics with larger all-terrain tires, bronze MST Time Attack wheels, and protective additions like skid plates and mud flaps. While maintaining a largely OEM+ approach, the RAV4 gained improved traction, underbody protection, and increased cargo space with a roof-mounted Thule box.
Off-road Capability Score: 30 out of 70 Points
Based on our off-road capability rating, this build gets 30 points out of 70 possible.
Break down of the score: AWD Unibody crossover with All-terrain tires – 20 Points; AWD traction enhancement mode – 5 Ponts; Skid Plates – 5 Points.
This build demonstrates that even modest modifications can significantly enhance a crossover’s off-road capabilities, making it a great example for RAV4 owners looking to explore the paths beyond paved roads.
Watch the progress and find out more about this 4th Gen Toyota Rav4 by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @itsaslowrunner
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