Lifted VW Atlas Peak Edition Off-Road Build & Family Overlander
The VW Atlas takes up an interesting niche in the VW line up – it’s the more simple and practical big brother to the legendary Touareg which doesn’t have the premium price tag. Unlike the older Touaregs, it’s AWD isn’t equipped with lockers, it has the Electronic central Differential Lock (EDL) and ESC which does a pretty good job of maintaining traction on a rough terrain (to some extent of course). All in all it’s a perfect sleeper choice for those who want to hit the trails without sacrificing on daily comfort or reliability.
The 2024 Atlas Peak Edition owned and modified by Peace Phan from R1Concepts caught my attention for all the right reasons – you don’t see many of these crossovers out in the wild, especially kitted for overland-style adventures. If you consider building something similar on the base of your own Atlas – you’ll definitely want to read the parts section!
Key Mods:
- Eibach Pro-Lift-Kit with B2BFAB spacers
- 32″ Toyo Open Country A/T tires and Black Rhino wheels
- Complete overland setup with rooftop tent and recovery gear
Owner’s Insight
– My first official off-road vehicle was a 1992 4Runner with the steel body. I used it mainly for snowboarding trips and camping adventures. I even did some light rock crawling with it until I broke a few things. At the time, I was too young to really know how to fix it or take things further.
– That said, off-roading and overlanding have always fascinated me. I’ve always loved seeing vehicles built to go beyond the pavement—pushed to their limits in remote places you’d never normally explore. For me, it’s more than just a hobby; it’s a way to escape the city and spend quality time with friends and family in places most people don’t venture. It’s my version of freedom
Why did you choose an Atlas for your project?
– I wanted something that stood out from the sea of traditional overlanding builds. The VW Atlas offered a unique platform—modern, spacious, and capable, but still underrepresented in the overlanding community. It gave me the opportunity to showcase how a non-traditional vehicle can still hold its own on the trails while being incredibly comfortable for everyday driving. Plus, the Atlas has a sleek design that balances rugged and refined, which fit the vision I had in mind.
What was the most difficult part of the build?
– The hardest part was definitely the lack of off-the-shelf aftermarket support. I was very fortunate to get support from various companies that were willing to take a chance and up upstart the build.
What do you love the most about your Atlas build?
– What I love most is how balanced it is. It’s not just a showpiece—it’s fully functional. I can hit a trail, camp in comfort, and still drive to work or run errands without compromise.
– As for my favorite mod? It’s a tough choice, but I’d say the roof rack setup from Prospeedrack and my R1 BBK. Both were the most game-changing. It transformed both the look and utility of the build—if I had to be honest they help the trajectory of this build. I didn’t hit any walls when I had first envisioned it.
But to be honest the whole build is what I love and all mods are my favorite
The Build
Suspension
Having one of the lowest ground clearance numbers in the segment of fullsize crossovers, lifting the Atlas is must for anyone looking to use it off-road. That’s why the owner went with a set of B2BFAB lift spacers, gaining a couple of more inches of space above the ground and in the wheel wells to clear larger tires.
Wheels & Tires
The wheel setup clearly shows the off-road intentions of the owner. His choice fell on the stylish set of Black Rhino Voll wheels in the 18×8 size with +25mm offset. The rims are wrapped in 265/65R18 Toyo Open Country A/Ts provide a much better grip compared to the road tires that come from the factory. Having the overal diameter of 32″ inches (quite big for an AWD crossover) they leave just enough space to air down when traction gets loose and the AWD starts to slip through.
Overland Gear
The Inspired Overland Carbonlite rooftop tent sits on a Prospeed low-profile rack system. The hitch-mounted RigD Supply UltraSwing spare tire carrier keeps the weight off the tailgate and provides a convenient mounting point for additional gear. RigD SideHack adds extra storage options and on the sides you’ll notice some practical and nice-looking Rotopax storage. 5-gallon pressurized water tank from Openroad 4WD makes the trail rinse much easier and more convenient.
Performance
Under the hood, Peace added an aFe Power exhaust and intake for better breathing and a slight power bump. But the real upgrade is the R1 Concepts big brake kit front and rear. When you’re loaded down with gear and heading down steep grades, those extra friction make all the difference.
List of Modifications
Suspension
- B2BFAB BFT Blocks and Spacers (15mm front, 20mm rear)
Wheels
- Black Rhino Voll 18×8 +25mm 5×112
- Toyo Open Country A/T 265/65R18
Performance
- R1 Concepts BBK 356mm 6-piston front
- R1 Concepts BBK 356mm 6-piston EPB rear
- aFe Power exhaust and intake
Exterior
- Prospeed Rack low-profile roof rack with exterior molle
- RigD Supply UltraSwing Multi-Fit spare tire hitch mount
- RigD Supply SideHack
- Inspired Overland carbon fiber crossbar kit
- Wellvisors window visors with black trim
- ECStuning rear windshield wiper delete
Lights
- Baja Designs XL Sport LED auxiliary pods
- Baja Designs S1 LED auxiliary pods
- Baja Designs Squadron Sport
- Baja Designs LED rock light kit
- Baja Designs S1 universal hitch light kit
- Baja Designs S8 light bar
- Baja Designs LP6 Pro LED auxiliary pod
- Eurowise ditch light brackets
- B2BFAB auxiliary light bracket
Overland Gear
- Inspired Overland Carbonlite rooftop tent
- Iceco APL35 and APL21 fridges
- Anker C1000 Solix portable power station with solar
- Anker Solix C300 portable power station
- Smittybilt 180-degree awning and shower awning
- GoFluxx 270 awning kit
- JetBoil Flask Java Kit and Genesis Basecamp System
- Tail Gater tire table
- Ignik Firecan Elite fire pit
- RigD Supply UltraTable drop-down camp table
- Power Tank 10lb CO2 tank
- Rotopax Gen2 2-gallon gas and water tanks
- RototraX traction boards (orange)
- Garmin PowerSwitch
Interior
- Rockville Ghost V2 spare tire subwoofer
- WOLFBOX G900 Pro dash cam
- Bassheadgarage wireless bass knob
Conclusion
This 2024 Atlas off-road build (again) proves that modern crossovers can be legitimate adventure rigs when built right. It doesn’t have mechanical lockers like traditional 4x4s, but I am not even sure you would need those for family adventures with such a good 4Motion system. With its modest lift, proper tires, and comprehensive overland setup, this Atlas scores a respectable 35 out of 70 points on our off-road capability scale.
Watch the progress and find out more about this VW Atlas off-road build by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @vwfatlas
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