This cute ute can handle some pretty rough terrain.
December 2, 2023 in 3pm ET
It’s fun to watch little vehicles accomplish impossible feats. This his 3 door, all wheel drive 1996 Toyota RAV4 conquered the world. 199 miles of Mojave Road Trail A good example is between California and Nevada.
This little rig belongs to Stefan Papadakis of Papadakis Racing. Off-road modifications include a set of coilovers, a custom front skid plate, and an engine swap to a Toyota 3S-GTE turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 260 horsepower. This model is equipped with his 5-speed manual gearbox without a low-speed transfer case.
The Mojave Road Trail offers off-roaders a diverse landscape experience including sections lined with Joshua trees, a dry lakebed, sand dunes, and some rock formations. The perfect combination of surfaces for all-day off-road driving.
Papadakis’ modified RAV4 performed like a champ under these tough conditions. He was able to wade through water even on flooded sections of the trail. The biggest challenge he faced was climbing a steep hill with several deep depressions. Papadakis had to choose the right line, as the Toyota has limited suspension articulation and no low-range gearing to reduce power. It takes some adjustment, but Papadakis eventually comes out on top.
Near the end of the trail there is a difficult section with lots of floating rocks. This is where the exhaust hanger broke just before the end of the road, leaving the muffler and pipes dragged across the dirt. The fix is very easy. Papadaki uses a spare alternator belt and zip ties to temporarily secure the pipe to his body. That’s a pretty minor issue considering the abuse this his RAV4 has just taken.
If you want to see more of this custom RAV4 build, check out the video below that shows the trick suspension installation.
sauce: papadakis racing via YouTube, via car buzz
