Coupi'S 1997 Lwb Rav4 -The Adventuremobile

[coupi]

Bought an industrial orange paint marker, as I'm going to put a few orange touches on it

Got my hands on an import tailgate checkstrap. Outside the Europe the rear door opens a full 90 degrees, but this causes the spare wheel to obscure the rear lights and reflectors. So they gave us a shorter checkstrap, thus not alowing the boot to open as far. Japanese one has two points it holds at which is useful.

Old one open

New one on first click

New one opened fully

Bought some facelift headlights. Dual bulb, put so much more light out than mine. Plus mine had a crack in one, which was creating a pool of water in it.

So this is how it stood at this point

Gave it a good wash. Is it me, or do my pressure washer and car match?

One thing with the facelift headlights is they don't have sidelights in them. They should be in with the indicators, which are a taller unit than on mine, and fit in a different bumper. So some kind of plan had to be made...

Bought some clear indicators from USA.

Comparing old and new

Sidelight held through indicator bulb hole to test illumniation

Both fitted. Ran no sidelights for a while...

 

[coupi]

Not sure if I mentioned there was a load of filler on the front corner of the drivers wing? A lot more than I first thought...



Pencil for thickness



Used the dremel to cut the sidelight mounts off the old headlights, and plastic welded them on to the indicators after cutting some holes in the back.



Got a super rare genuine Toyota armrest from USA



After fitting the new springs and shocks, no ones trolley jacks lifted the wheels more than an inch off the ground To Machine Mart! 3 tonne 520mm trolley jack, pair of 600mm 6 tonne trolley jacks and a 6 tonne 420mm bottle jack to live in the RAV.



After sending the rear spacers to a machine shop next door to my mates car restoration place, and asking for 8mm off each side. They came back with 4mm off each side. So send them back again. Now they're spot on and fit the springs perfectly Let the lifting commence!



Cut down my front bumper, fitted towbar, painted towball orange, fitted 4300k 35W HIDs to my dipped beam. Need to have fixed earth on the dipped, so they stay on when main comes on and cut down my backbox outlet.







Top mount spacers

 

[coupi]

Got some new wheels. Second hand, but have only done about 10 miles http://www.yarisclubuk.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png 16" 7J ET35

Opinions on paint please!

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/photo_zps0bdd545f.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/gggg3_zps0c931941.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/gggg2_zps8099c319.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/gggg_zpsbb7d33d4.jpg

Bare in mind my centrecaps (if they will fit) are black and nuts will be black or polished.

 

[coupi]

Missed out on a set of four Federal AT tyres with 14mm tread for £155 in a larger size than stock for the new wheels http://www.yarisclubuk.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.png So as a temporary measure, I've managed to get hold of a stock size brand new Falken Landair AT (which is what my spare tyre is, which is also brand new) for £55 posted. So I'll ditch the pair of Runway Enduro HTs and have the pair of brand new Falken Landair ATs (pic below of my spare one) on the rear and the Yokomhama Geolandar ATs on the front. Spigot rings and a pairof 25mm hubcentric spacers arrived yesterday. Still on the lookout for some nice big tyres for the new wheels...

http://distilleryimage10.ak.instagram.com/90e97b369cad11e2a66b22000a9f09de_7.jpg

 

[coupi]

Conservatory seems to be collecting a few wheels and tyres now :/

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/177_zpsdd1ef904.jpg

On to the tyres http://www.yarisclubuk.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.png 235/70 mud terrains - Insa Turbo Sahara 2. Much bigger than your average 235/70. 30" tall,16mm of tread,won't stop gripping!

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/178_zpsc27c96a9.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/179_zpsbf2d2f35.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/180_zps8ba916c5.jpg

#tractorflush

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/181_zps521d9952.jpg

It's gone everywhere I've taken it now, andreally surprised everyone that's come across it http://www.yarisclubuk.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/182_zpsf8881f4c.jpg

A couple of pics from a little adventure a couple of weeks ago.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/174_zpsf118dae4.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/175_zps943f4ef1.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/176_zpsab742031.jpg

Current plan with the wheels...

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/183_zps23733511.jpg

 

[coupi]

Originally I was thinking matte beige/sand, matte black and Nato green are a bit too dark for my liking. But now I'm thinking matte brown, couple of pics that inspired me. I prefer the second, darker brown along with plastics staying black

http://distilleryimage10.ak.instagram.com/2cbee3c4752b11e396ce12ede6b409a6_8.jpg

http://distilleryimage9.ak.instagram.com/b1c54252752111e3b6de12d2153a7d75_8.jpg

 

[coupi]

Went out in the floods last night, and then green laning until 2:30 this morning http://www.yarisclubuk.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/186_zps05d5613c.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/187_zps6efc339a.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/188_zpsb242f690.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/189_zps22e809b8.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/190_zps5242ec9f.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/191_zps665d97c1.jpg

Found why my feet have been getting wet. Huge hole around the sterring column. I've bought a drivershaft gaiter which I should be able to fit to stop the water.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/185_zps04910252.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/193_zps060032be.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/192_zpsed6ef07a.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/194_zps538b8257.jpg

New wheel nuts

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/195_zpse635d8e4.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/196_zps93656f2d.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/197_zps280cdf9f.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/198_zps5a18f325.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/199_zps98ed05d8.jpg

 

[coupi]

Only a partial update as I've done a couple of other bits and bobs.

But for the bargain price of £50, I bought this little lot:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/200_zpse0fae349.jpg

Genuine Toyota winch, only small yes, but it has three stage planetary gears, so should pull quite well for it's size. Came with original weather proof cover, controller with military spec plug, controller case and mounted on bumper from a Suzuki SJ, which is what the winch has been on for some time.

Simple mock up to get an idea of how it'll look.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/coupi/Adventuremobile/201_zpsba0adb88.jpg

Stripped it down to some extent, still trying to find what I can about it, but there is little information on them sadly http://www.yarisclubuk.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.png Got it running anyhow, wiring it up using 25mm2 jump lead cables (rated to 600A I think)...

 

[coupi]

That's it all up to date. I'll go through and edit it all so it makes sense a little better.

 

[jynx]

I dig it. Love you taking something outside the norm and making it your own.

 

[coupi]

I dig it. Love you taking something outside the norm and making it your own.

Thanks!

I bought it with the mindset that I wouldn't want to modify it, as it's a RAV4, how wrong could I have been...

 

[coupi]

On the lookout for help regarding OEM Toyota Aisin winches...

 

[coupi]

So finally, a few pictures for you guys

I've got a fair bit of other stuff to photograph/find pics of post up, but they can wait. For now, it;'s winch time!



I bought the Aisin made OEM Toyota winch (these came on the Hilux, 4Runner and some Land Cruisers), it's only a 3,000lbs winch, but it's triple planetary! It had been on a Suzuki SJ, on a box bumper which had a winch tray plate welded and gusseted on, but it looked pants. I gave that bumper to my mate who's not long bought a Daihatsu Sportrak, and bought myself a 4X4RUS winch bumper, again, meant for a Suzuki SJ. It's a far better bit of kit, as you'll see. That came with side lights and indicators (which I had to smash off, as the screws and bolts were rusted on), fairlead (roller) and two towing eyes.



I've bought new Wipac indicators, and Wipac mutli LED (actually SMD I think) sidelights for it. Cut down standard bumper is off, clear indicator/sidelight units cable tied in place so I can still drive it, and bullbar and spotlamps off (bullbar is now to be sold).



After a lot of research I managed to find a scanned in copy of the winch manual, which unlike other Aisin winches, didn't have it's own booklet, it was nestled inside the Hilux manual. Managed to find out the all important gear oil measurement, drained and refilled it. Then got my head round the wiring, tested it and it all worked fine.



The cables that it came with were tatty, and far too small, they did work, but got really warm when being used. So I salvaged cable from a set of old jumpleads, rated to either 500A or 600A - heavy duty

My mate with the Sportrak and I have spent the last couple of afternoons and evening making up the brackets etc and now have it fitted. Plans are to angle the end parts outside of the sides back, to match the body a bit better, possibly but up the old front bumper to fill in the gap between the bumper and the body too..

 

[coupi]

 

[jason in tn]

Very cool, always like to see out side the box builds like this, looks like a fun little truck.


Between here and there

 

[IrishLX450]

good on ya, a lot of thought and effort in that build

 

[dadsf250]

That be lookin good !!!

 

[yotasavg]

Love this rig! I always liked the look of these when I was younger. Question, did your 7 carling switches just fit perfectly into that old single din slot? Or was there some fitting involved? Looks really clean, like factory.

 

[coupi]

Very cool, always like to see out side the box builds like this, looks like a fun little truck.


Between here and there

good on ya, a lot of thought and effort in that build

That be lookin good !!!

Cheers guys!

It's changed a little more now, I'll stick up a few recent pics shortly!

 

[coupi]

Love this rig! I always liked the look of these when I was younger. Question, did your 7 carling switches just fit perfectly into that old single din slot? Or was there some fitting involved? Looks really clean, like factory.

Thanks mate!

The switch bank did fit in without any modification, it's a tight fit, more down to me making the wiring a little short, meaning the right hand side has to be slotted in first. But measurement-wise, it's only a mm or two off.