Honda CRV?

[lay80n]

Just thought i should clear up something: monocorque bodies aren't all the same! although, i doubt these softroaders make them strong enough, Jeep have been using them for years (since the 80s) in XJ, KJ and Grand Cherokees (not wranglers), however the design is strong and comparable (but "probably" not as durable in theory) to a ladder chasis and does support rated recovery points. (and yes can be used for hardcore 4x4). there are chassis type rails but cannot be detached from the cabin (ie body lift) and is based on aeronautical engineering ie. aeroplanes and space shuttles (which also have monocorque bodies). the only advantage i can think of is 1/3-1/2 less weight and better power:weight ratio. Now with the poweful engines Jeep use already in a lighter vehicle, is why they hammer!

Im quite aware of the Jeep bodies, and have had experience with them. We are talking about soft roaders here. CRV etc.

Layto....

[Alpine]

I've taken it up big muddy hills, through some rough tracks, on the sand a little (more to come) and it's great.

The CR-V is alot more capable than alot of people would realise. For beach work, dirt trails, shallow water crossings, etc, it is more than adequate. You don't always need an overkill 4X4 for this sort of offroading.

One time when we went to Bribie, we were in a convoy of two 4Runners, a Frontera and my gen 1 CR-V. One of the 4Runners got stuck on some soft sand but the CR-V ploughed thru it with no problems whatsoever.

Here are some pictures of the CR-V doing its thing. This first bunch of pics was taken during our first visit to Condamine Gorge in 2003:











This next bunch was taken at Stradbroke Island in 2004:















The next bunch marks our return to Condamine Gorge in 2006 (water was somewhat deeper this time)!









This last bunch shows us cruising along the beach on Bribie Island, also in 2006:






So if this is the sort of offroading you are into, as you can see, it is perfectly capable.

[RockyF75]

Sorry to break it to you but there's nothing in those pics (bar the beachwork) that I haven't seen my friends statesman do. And its not a thrasher either, 2000 model I think.

[grimbo]

Sorry to break it to you but there's nothing in those pics (bar the beachwork) that I haven't seen my friends statesman do. And its not a thrasher either, 2000 model I think.

so what, that sort of 4wding is what some people think they need a Cruiser for as well. Good on him for taking his car out and enjoying some areas many people wouldn't think of taking their CRV to. Seems like people are very quick to bash people just because they are doing something in a vehicle others don't think much of.

[RockyF75]

Sorry to break it to you but there's nothing in those pics (bar the beachwork) that I haven't seen my friends statesman do. And its not a thrasher either, 2000 model I think.

so what, that sort of 4wding is what some people think they need a Cruiser for as well. Good on him for taking his car out and enjoying some areas many people wouldn't think of taking their CRV to. Seems like people are very quick to bash people just because they are doing something in a vehicle others don't think much of.

no, but I saw this:

The CR-V is alot more capable than alot of people would realise. For beach work, dirt trails, shallow water crossings, etc, it is more than adequate. You don't always need an overkill 4X4 for this sort of offroading.

and figured if thats all you want to do (whats in the pics) then why even bother with a softroader get a 2wd cause it will do the same. No point encouraging people to go out and buy another softroader. There's enough of them in the shops as it is. But by all means if you have one good on you for using it. But i'd think more highly of someone who went out and did the same in a 2wd car cause thats all you really need.

[Alpine]

and figured if thats all you want to do (whats in the pics) then why even bother with a softroader get a 2wd cause it will do the same. No point encouraging people to go out and buy another softroader. There's enough of them in the shops as it is. But by all means if you have one good on you for using it. But i'd think more highly of someone who went out and did the same in a 2wd car cause thats all you really need.

That has to be the dumbest thing I have heard all day. No way you could get by with a 2WD on the deep soft sand that can be found on the high end of a beach or at the entrances and exits, especially if you are moving off from standstill.

[RockyF75]

and figured if thats all you want to do (whats in the pics) then why even bother with a softroader get a 2wd cause it will do the same. No point encouraging people to go out and buy another softroader. There's enough of them in the shops as it is. But by all means if you have one good on you for using it. But i'd think more highly of someone who went out and did the same in a 2wd car cause thats all you really need.

That has to be the dumbest thing I have heard all day. No way you could get by with a 2WD on the deep soft sand that can be found on the high end of a beach or at the entrances and exits, especially if you are moving off from standstill.

Sorry to break it to you but there's nothing in those pics (bar the beachwork) that I haven't seen my friends statesman do. And its not a thrasher either, 2000 model I think.

and besides, i know of 2wd's that've been on stockton

[grimbo]

and figured if thats all you want to do (whats in the pics) then why even bother with a softroader get a 2wd cause it will do the same. No point encouraging people to go out and buy another softroader. There's enough of them in the shops as it is. But by all means if you have one good on you for using it. But i'd think more highly of someone who went out and did the same in a 2wd car cause thats all you really need.

That has to be the dumbest thing I have heard all day. No way you could get by with a 2WD on the deep soft sand that can be found on the high end of a beach or at the entrances and exits, especially if you are moving off from standstill.

Sorry to break it to you but there's nothing in those pics (bar the beachwork) that I haven't seen my friends statesman do. And its not a thrasher either, 2000 model I think.

and besides, i know of 2wd's that've been on stockton

so what doesn't mean its a good idea. I've seen 2wds in some pretty stupid spots in Narbethong, anything can be done with a heavy right foot although it does nothing good for the vehicle or the environment.

[username_taken]

Hey last time I was at DIP I saw a vespa going down the beach at low tide! so why not a CRV?

[Troll00]

OK stop bagging the CRV I have seen one of these almost cross the Simpson Desert well it got as far as Pepples Corner anyway, drove up the back of big red, and cross most of the sand dunes without a strap on to help, but it will never be the same ripped all the plastic guards from under the body twisted the body and cracked the windscreen, blow 5 tyres out.
Still laughing on how far he got!!!!!

[tojo_runner]

ive seen some grass thicker than the places you took your crv. My diesel 4runner would do all that in 2wd easily under 3000 rpm

[Gwagensteve]

OK stop bagging the CRV I have seen one of these almost cross the Simpson Desert well it got as far as Pepples Corner anyway, drove up the back of big red, and cross most of the sand dunes without a strap on to help, but it will never be the same ripped all the plastic guards from under the body twisted the body and cracked the windscreen, blow 5 tyres out.
Still laughing on how far he got!!!!!

*rant on*

And that's precisely the point. If you want to hate your car through to prove a point, it is amazing where whatever will get.

Porsche have taken 911's across the simpson, Mazda have taken 929's to the cape jeep took a wrangler to 21,000ft....

I am sure I would be "amazed" where your could take a CRV, a falcon, and a ford focus, and a.... whatever.

The fact is, a CRV has road car engineering and no low range. I am sure I would be surprised where it would go and I know for sure that 99% of CRV owners have no idea how far their cars will go. That does not make it a 4WD.

Good on someone for trying- I am sure it will go as far as they need. It is not, however, actually, any more a 4WD than the honda civic on which it is based. The territory, CRV, HRV, CX7, Freelander, about 25 korean things, X5, X3, and about 50 other cars with no low range are marketing exercise that are the equivalent of a diving watch that is not waterproof.

Let it go. This is not the forum to make a point about what you may or may not be able to do with a CRV.

*rant off*
Steve.

[Alpine]

ive seen some grass thicker than the places you took your crv. My diesel 4runner would do all that in 2wd easily under 3000 rpm

Congratulations.

[Fox22]

Ahh - CRV bashing - the one constant in all offroad forums..

I've always wanted a Jeep or something I can go offroading with but I am a student and funds are limited to say the least so I have basically been working with what I have... which is a 1997 Honda CRV. Needless to say I've seen this topic come up many many times and its pretty frustrating because I see people bashing the car I love and telling half-truths and offering their perceptions and opinions as fact. So here are my experiences and some facts on the generation 1 CRV....

As I said I have always wanted a Jeep.. but to be honest, Jeeps are really only good for offroading. I need a vehicle that is economical (27mpg), versatile, safe, reliable and confortable- but also fun. The CRV is all of these. I decided that I would work with what I had and try to improve my CRV's offroad capability. I have added a 2-2.5" lift, AT tires, Brushguard with light bar, Custom exhaust, removable 3000lb winch, among other goodies.

Ohh! look at that! Stock Recovery points!!! How did you guys with your first hand CRV experiences miss those!?? Mine are somewhat hidden by my homemade brush guard attached to the stock-provided mounting points of the tow tabs and front crumple zone.. Some jeep guys from krawlerz once challenged its integrity and the end result was 5 guys lifting the front of the car clear off the ground with it.





Believe me, these tow points are plenty functional as I've used them several times... to tow and winch other vehicles! I've only had the CRV stuck once, and it was my own fault for sliding off the trail...





As for offroad capability, it is true that the AWD system is automatic with no indication of activation. I have added a gage cluster with a temperature gage for it so I can tell when its working, but in all my experiences I have only had the AWD system overheat and shut down once while tearing around in the sand pits in 35 degree heat. (The system actually runs hotter at highway speeds than it usually does offroad) After 5 minutes of waiting, it had cooled enough to re-engage and I drove out and parked in the shade for a while.

The AWD system is indeed reactive in that it does not engage until the front wheels slip however this happens when there is a speed difference of 2% between the front and rear wheels, or approximately 1/4 turn of one front wheel for the system to engage. "Real time AWD" is an entirely self-contained hydro-mechanical system. There are no electronics, or any sort of attachment to the rest of the vehicle. It is all contained within the rear diff. IT IS NOT A VISCOUS COUPLING! It consists of two hydraulic pumps - one running off the driveshaft from the transfer assembly, one running off the rear differential differential. Hydraulic fluid is pumped from one to the other- when one pump turns faster than the other, hydraulic pressure builds and engages a hydraulic clutch pack that connects the rear wheels to the front. The system is not a true 4x4 system, but it works VERY well, is bullet proof, and as long as you know how to drive with these characteristics (and change the fluid as per the interval) it can be very capable.

Its true the driveshaft and exhaust is exposed, but this can be easily rectified this with a custom exhaust and some care on the trails. The fuel tank is plastic, but it is entirely protected by a stamped steel tub. If you did manage to dent or puncture the steel tub, the actual tank will simply bend or compress without puncturing - like it is designed to do in a crash. In actuality, everything on the underside is tucked up out of the way and most sensitive bits like CV shafts and engine components are well protected by the suspension arms.



Its true that the CRV is meant for the road and it handles like a car. This is something I challenge you to achieve with an offroad rig. I have had it up to 190km/h and done everything from Solo events, to autocross to navex and perfomance rallies and it has always impressed.

As far as low range goes, it would be nice.. but the CRV has quite a bit of torque despite no low range. This is a video of me climbing an embankment under a bridge... I was quite surprised that it was able to climb the slope, let alone start on the slope..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rD_B5s7Lt0E

In any case, you won't run the Rubicon Trail in a CRV, but you can have alot of fun exploring offroad given a good set of AT tires and some care. Not to mention it can carry 5 people with gear, the interior folds down into a double bed, comes with its own picnic table (Show me ONE other car that comes with a picnic table!! ) - All while getting 27 mpg and riding in confort.

Even though I can't tackle the bigger mud holes and obstacles, the CRV with a few modifications is plenty enough to let me go out and play in the dirt with the "big boys".... I've heard from lots of people telling stories about how they pulled out a CRV- but I've heard many many more stories about pulling out larger vehicles in similar stupid situations. I've towwed larger (lifted TJ) vehicles out myself as you can witness in this video - http://youtube.com/watch?v=wp5IwM0L1z0

Don't underestimate the "little guys" you might be surprised someday.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pG_d2VqmyVw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R3KPji_Szms
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YOGhifKiajM


The best thing about driving CRVs ... snow!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qlejfo19MTY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vO2SKMrD7ns
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dy0xxhnbLOA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9wzr-6fMuts





















Can't forget....








CR-Bed? Perfect for camping and dating...







Anyway, just tryin' to open some minds...

[crazymanwithavan]

Nice pics.

I thought I'd add some of my own comments, because I've owned several 4wds, one of them being, (and still have), a CRV.

We use the CRV as a family shinny/softroader.
Without mods, don't think of it as a bush bashing machine, but then it wasn't designed for it. out of all the cars we've had, this is the longest serving car.
Ideal for mothers with babies, i.e. the height is just right in putting the baby in the seat, (not too low like our Merc SEC), and not too high (like my Landcruiser FRP). The middle between the front seats are ideal for moving back and forth from the front to rear seats.
anyway I'm not getting into the argument of other opinions. Here is my own opinion based on my own experiences, (and not browsing the internet)

Honda CRV; good general family car, limited off road capabilities due to clearance, auto is good however for slow rocky uphill climbs. Got stuck many times, road tyres didn't help. Good in sand but be ware, reverse I couldn't get 4wd. maybe not enough revs(?). Can't compare it's road handing with a Merc SEC 560!

Suzuki Vitara; goes everywhere especially with mud tyres. too small for long fishing/hunting trips and can't sleep in it. not built as rugged as other offroaders. front alloy IFS diff breaks regularly if hard pushed.

Mitsubishi L300/delica; superb cross between family cart/bush bashing. Takes your whole family, ya neighbours as well.
On the road it as not as smooth as CRV, but better than vitara. Could sleep/camp out with family, middle seats swivel to create a inside "picnic area". Ran some Firestone SAT 7.50x16s as well as 31x10.5. Could go most off road places with good ground clearance, but lacked power and was easy to roll, (found out the hard way). Not as rugged as a landcruiser.

Toyota Blizzard; Goes even better offroad than the vitara and much more rugged. but not as easy to drive on road. gutless with 31x10.5 and 2l-t motor.
same limitations as the vitara when it came to size/travelling long distances.

FRP Landcruiser. Rugged bush basher, not bad on road too, but non turbo version is as gutless as a disembowelled man, (0-100 km/hr in 3 hours).
not for family, but ideal for one man on long hunting/fishing trips, (can sleep in it too if done right)

once again, it's only my own experience / opinion, and pretty much been saying what most people have been saying, "horses for courses"

[Crinale]

I too am a CR-V utilizer... and i have never had to be towed out of anything. mud, water, snow, deep sand... i have however, towed a 4500lb Buick Ranier when it got stuck in the snow...

i regularly take my 97 CR-V out to the Oceano Dunes in california, and i havent found anything out there i cant do with my tire pressures at <15psi... i even drove up a steep 90ft sand dune once. I also do rocks, and mud, (sadly no pics as i never have a photographer... its always me and a few other guyz, usually one per truck) I constantly surprise my friends with the capability of my V, following them wherever they go (lifted Ford Ranger, lifted TJ on 35s (sold :(), and a stock toyota Tacoma TRD 4wd) ... the only place i never followed them was this one mud pit with a 15" drop off, which i would have hung up on...

The 4wd in the V is not a real 4wd, no, but fox's discription is dead on. It IS more capable than a 2wd, and it can get me to the back country away from civilization... which is exactly what i want... i dont need a rock crawler, if i did i would have bought a lifted toyota 4x4 for $1500usd that was in my neighborhood 6 months ago... what i want is something that can take the trails, through streams, over mild rocks (12" or less), and just away from the city in general...

also, anyone who has doubts... Fox22s videos (above) are the best place to find what the V can do, as he always documents his trips...

just to end my post here, i always carry a tow strap and go out wheelin with friends in "real" 4WD's, so when i get stuck they can pull me out... but the only times that tow strap has been used, has been when I am towing one of them...

-Crinale

---------------

edit: oh ya, fox, u forgot these:

[Fox22]

Just to add - the first picture there is a 2WD CRV and from what I've heard, he doesn't do too badly either ...

[Alpine]

[chikoroll_]

... good luck with the rust in 2 years time

[Fox22]

Driving in the ocean won't hurt a car for rust - Thats nothing compared to the amount of salt our vehicles deal with on the roads here for weeks in winter (Ontario, Canada) year after year.

[grimbo]

where in Toronto are you from? Some of my cousins live just off Young St near the freeway, is it Clarkson (memory a bit vague). Other cousins live in Missasauga. My Aunt & Uncle live up on Lake Simcoe in Beaverton. Really love Toronto, very similar to Melbourne here in Australia.

Where are you taking the CRV? Only areas I've been 4wding is just north of Algonquin NP and east of Quebec

[Fox22]

Well there are some trails about 30 mins west in Milton, Some Just north in Orangeville, Lots of trails and unassumed roads in Durham region - about an hr to the east. There used to be a couple sites right in the GTA like near the 410 and Steeles, but they were closed down. In July I'm planning a trip up to Bobcaygeon with some people from another offroad site. The plan is to wheel all day Saturday and finish lakeside for some swimming, spend the night, and wheel back out on Sunday. I'm gonna make sure I take lots of pictures this time and it looks like I'll have a friend with me to help film some of the cool parts.

[Crinale]

sweet... i cant wait for those pics/vids

[bb22]

Quite funny to read what positives and negatives everybody has to say about the CRV.

We have a 2003 CRV and I have used it may times towing my jetskis onto the beach and a few times without. It goes pretty well, but it does require the front to start bogging before the rear engages. Reverse is very dodge as mentioned and 4wd does not kick in consistently.

Anyhow about 6 months ago it got stuck in some really soft sand with the trailer on right near the water. I unhitched the trailer and dropped the tyre pressure. After removing some of the sand and putting some seaweek iin the tracks, it drove straight out. I was very suprised, as was the owner of a landcruiser. Anyhow I reversed back and pulled the trailer out too.

I put the CRV sand success down to being so light. However as an AWD for safety reasons on wet roads, it is very basic. Compared to a Subaru Forrestor (Mum) or X-trail (Sister), it will happy spin the front wheels before engaging. If the front wheels spin too agressively, the rears don't engage at all.

Anyhow we also now have a Toyota Prado and no longer take the CRV anywhere near offroad. The CRV is certianly not in the Prados league offroad. Fox22 I must admit I am impressed with what you have done and am not really suprised. However the lack of 4wd engagement control and reverse always left me nervous.

[Crinale]

the crv's 4wd does work in reverse... put your V up on jacks so that no wheels are touching, start the car and put it in reverse... (without touching gas) the rears start to spin, this is the clutchpack in the realtime unit engaging. iv also noticed this in the few times iv been stuck on the sand (stupid me driving around without airing down ) but digging around the tires and airing down got me out all 3 times iv been stuck in the sand... no tow-out necessary

[grimbo]

crinale you might want to get rid of that huge signature pic as they aren't allowed on this site

[Crinale]

crinale you might want to get rid of that huge signature pic as they aren't allowed on this site

oops i dont see anywhere where it says that, but i took it off anyway... thanx for the heads-up

[Alpine]

Found this one on the WWW with the caption "That's a shot of a 'soft' moment in that thing. Had to dig it out, and being the absolute fat bastard I was back then, it took a while. Bent the bash bar, ripped the plastic protector off, ripped a mount off the exhaust, flooded the engine bay heheh. The same day I ended up towing my mate's FJ40 shorty (yes i know, but that Honda surprised a lot of us that day) twice. Pity it's Auto. It struggled up the last hill in Gembrook, coz it kept shifting into 2nd, when I needed first."

[Alpine]

Here's a CR-V pulling out a truck that's gotten stuck.



And a couple of other pics.

[Alpine]