RAV4 TRD Overlanding & Camp Cooking in Mendocino National Forest

Join us for our Memorial Day weekend overlanding trip to Mendocino National Forest, where we explored forest road trails in our RAV4, cooked gourmet camp food, and enjoyed some time away from civilization.

[@l33america]

love your videos.. came just in time as Im gonna hit up this place soon. Thanks always for sharing information. I need to go eat again now :)

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thank you! You'll love the Mendocino NF area, it is great for exploration with lots of secluded areas. Huge network of pretty well maintained forest roads :)

[@csloan37]

Thankyou for sharing your food preparation recipes! I will order the barbecue sauce and plant based burgers soon!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching! You won't be disappointed with that BBQ sauce!

[@therootedprogress]

Great video man! Loving the adventure and the food 😍

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. Looking forward to meeting for an adventure one day!

[@academiaengineering5136]

I love it, Imma get a rav4 adventure soon to go camping and instead of using the the camping tent on the roof imma sleep inside the car as a bedroom and use instead a portable kitchen to cook my food by plugging in the rav4 charging port and use a electronic portable refrigerator by connecting it in the USB port all in the cargo trunk, and also have so off road adventures, I can’t wait to buy one, I’ll get a rav4 adventure in the future

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Good choice!

[@jojopuerto]

I just found your channel this morning. I have a Rav4 just like yours. I love this machine! But, I had been feeling like maybe I should trade in for a 4Runner. But your channel has inspired me to keep it. You've shown exactly how well it does in the type of adventures I'm into. Great content. Keep it up! Jealous of that west coast outdoor life!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching! We love our RAV4. Definitely not as capable off-road as a 4Runner, but we mostly do forest roads that don't require a giant 4x4. However, we did add a lift, skid plates, and we have all terrain tires that have made the RAV more capable. Definitely have been impressed with the RAV!

[@jojopuerto]

@@LunarLanderXplor I'd love to see a walk through of the rig! I'm looking to make some mods soon. Probably going to start with a small lift or a rack system. I have the standard Rhino Rack crossbars right now.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We'll do a full walkaround at some point. Right now we have the Rough Country 2.5" lift + Dendoff stiffer rear coils. We also have the LPAventure skid plates & bumper guard. On top we have the Frontrunner rack + iKamper mini RTT. Lots of other gear, but those are the main vehicle upgrades.

[@AgentWarlock]

Love the video, I enjoyed it quite a bit! You earned yourself a new sub.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching and subscribing! More videos to come soon :)

[@marlongaribaldi3]

Saludos de Juárez mexico. Rica comida. Great food. I am hungry. Because your video 👍👍👏

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Gracias! Thanks for watching!

[@gregpatterson134]

Love the travels you are doing and taking us along. I'm about to pull the trigger on a Rav Adventure. It's between Forester and this car, but I can't get past the possible down the road issues with subaru cvt and head gaskets. I need it as a daily driver on mixed dirt roads for work and want as reliable as possible getting to 100k plus since I need to keep the car 6-7 years. Would you still recommend it to do the light off roading as you show in your videos? Is it pretty comfortable over the highways for longer distances? Any problems so far? Thanks for the help

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Hi Greg, thanks for watching! So far the RAV has been great as a daily driver, for long road trips, and for light off-roading & camping. It is comfortable on the highway, has a large cargo capacity, and gets decent gas mileage. For off-roading, you won't be going on any difficult off-road trails with the RAV, but for light off-roading it does great. Only issue there has been ground clearance, but its the same as the Forrester has (we just got a lift). Other than that the only other issue is engine noise & power. It is pretty noisy and not very powerful, but it has not been a problem for us at all. Overall we love the RAV and we are happy with our choice!

[@johnjamison4427]

I may not be the first comment... but I was the first thumbs up. Cool video - miss you guys

[@LunarLanderXplor]

thanks for watching. miss you too buddy

[@Carlos-jh5tb]

love the video! curious what forest route you took to find these campsites.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks! We started at Lake Pillsbury, and went up the M1 up to Hull Mountain. From there, we continued up the M1 to find the 2nd campsite. On the last day, we made our way across the M6 to our final campsite.

[@jacobchhom6643]

nice post! just saw this trail in 2 previous videos. it looks like your rav4 is all stock right? I just got a 2021 tacoma 3rd off road last week, all stock and no mods yet, but it looks like i should be able to drive this trail.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching! Yes, our RAV4 is stock in terms of height & suspension. Our RAV (being the TRD version) did come with decent AT tires, which I would recommend for parts of this trail. In a Tacoma you should have no trouble at all! The only section of the trail that we did not attempt was the loop at the very top of Hull Mountain, which was very rutted out at the time we were there. Either way that loop is an optional detour and you can still easily continue North up and over Hull Mountain Road.

[@solex408]

What camping table are you using? I’m looking for a new one since mine seems to be on its last leg. Haha

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We are using this King Camp table from Amazon: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q2SK6TE/ It had good reviews and we have been enjoying it for 6 months with no issues.

[@GJOstrov]

Great videos! What model Frontrunner rack is that? When I search their site, I find the version for the 2019+ Rav4 and they say it’s not suitable for TRD Off Road or Adventure models. Did you use the older Frontrunner rack and get it to work on your TRD Off Road? Thanks!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks! There actually isn't a specific grab-on style Frontrunner rack made for the RAV TRD / Adventure roof rails. We took our vehicle directly to the Frontrunner shop in SoCal and they were able to get a fitment that worked for us. If you are able to remove the roof rails (which requires removing the interior headliner), you can use the RAV4 specific Frontruner rack. We decided a grab-on system would be fine, and so far it has been very sturdy. No problems taking if off road with our rooftop tent, awning, and recovery boards all mounted to the rack.

[@GJOstrov]

Lunar Lander Xplor Ah, I suspected something like that may have been the case. I’ve seen a video of someone installing the Prinsu rack to a TRD Off Road, and it looked like a nightmare. Even though it turned out ok, I foresee a lot of broken interior trim clips and inevitable water intrusion through the leftover mounting holes in the roof. I’d be pretty hesitant to try the same with either a Frontrunner or Prinsu tbh. I’m hoping one of the two companies comes out with something compatible with the TRD’s factory setup. Thanks for the reply.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

@@GJOstrov Yea that is definitely one of the reasons we went with the grab-on system. Seems sturdy enough, and the install was a lot less invasive. Also Front Runner has some of the best accessories available, all of which are easy to mount and work with.

[@RelProjects3]

Your videos make me want to road camp! I cant wait to take my Rav4 trd soon. For your roof tent setup, I went on Front Runner website but could not find the grab on system accessory. Do you know the exact model you are using?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

The one we have is not specifically made for the new RAV4 TRD/ Adventure. Pretty sure they used the same grab on from either a Subaru or an earlier model RAV. We took our RAV to the Frontrunner shop in Southern CA and they set us up with the best fitment they could. It has been great so far! Easy to attach the awning on the side, and the iKamper mini RTT is super solid. Best to get in touch with FrontRunner to ask about what rack option is best.

[@loneapple440]

Nice vid and the Rav4! Just happen to find your channel and will subscribe.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Awesome, thank you! Thanks for watching and following along! More videos to come soon :)

[@smithbryanw1]

Hello again! What table, pots, pans and fridge are you using? Been bingeing your videos by the way!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Hello and thanks for watching our videos!! Here are some of the things we are using (some have been updated since this video): Fridge: www.dometic.com/en-us/food-and-beverage/coolers/electric-coolers/dometic--cfx-50w-152178 There is a newer model out now Table: www.amazon.com/KingCamp-Aluminum-Portable-Collapsible-Supports/dp/B00Q2SK6TE Pots/pans: Not sure where we got the ones used in this video, but we have updated some of our cooking gear with items from: barebonesliving.com/ Let us know if you have any other questions! Or hit us up on IG: lunar_lander_xplor

[@marlone-3573]

Where do you guys buy the tent for the car and also is it hard to attach on the car?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Bought the tent through Rhino Adventure Gear, and they did the installation as well! We keep the tent on full-time so no need to attach/remove the tent.

[@KawaiiAznPanda7]

Is there a recipe for the chicken curry? All your cooking looks amazing 😍. Really enjoying your videos I hope to do this someday.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching! We don't really have a recipe for the curry, but its basically a Thai coconut curry with chicken :)

[@trendyaf8268]

We just got a Rav4 Hybrid...stoked to join the adventure! What'd the current setup do to your gas mileage? Enjoying your content!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Ours is a gas (non hybrid), and all the upgrades (rooftop tent, roof rack, lift, bigger tires, etc) reduced our MPGs quite a bit. I think we started around 28, and now we are closer to 23.

[@BurtonHohman]

That grill is so cool! Where did you get it?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

It's called a Skottle, made by Tembo Tusk: tembotusk.com/

[@ABSVabeautifulsunsetvlog]

So the KZbin algorithm really rewards consistency and I was talking to my brother in law who has built a really successful channel and he says that making shorter videos in the beginning can really help to establish your channel and it also makes it so you can take the same footage and cut it down to multiple videos. So instead of 13:00 videos you could chop the footage into two 6:00 videos and therefore have more videos. You could throw like a “to be continued” or something at the end in order to tie the footage together. But yeah, the algorithm doesn’t really reward better quality content and it seems like you put a ton of time into your videos (which is a good thing) but I really want to see your channel grow and the more content you have the more the algorithm will recognize you and start to promote your videos, thus leading to more subscribers. Hope that helps a little though. Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your awesome adventures and remember that everything you do can be content. So even if it doesn’t seem like something that you think people would watch, make a short video about it and throw it up. Maybe show us how to setup the awning in a video. In another video do a review of the cooktop you use. In another one review the rooftop tent. Maybe even review your RAV4... All of these are ways to create more content and grow your channel.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Appreciate the advice man! We are just getting started with making videos and KZbin in general, so learning along the way (just started back in May). Definitely makes sense to chop up into shorter videos vs. just putting out long ones. The "to be continued" idea makes sense so we can do a Part I and Part II from just one weekend adventure.

[@ABSVabeautifulsunsetvlog]

Lunar Lander Xplor heck yeah...😃✌🏽

[@anitamay4750]

What cooking pots did you use for the rice and curry?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Actually not sure! I think we got them from a friend years ago and there is no brand name on them.

[@murillo5541]

Do you think a Rav4 hybrid's AWD would be able to handle a trail like this? Torn between a hybrid or adventure model.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Yea definitely! The main concern would be the tires. If you throw some AT tires on the hybrid you can do a lot!

[@Mark-rj5pc]

Do you mind sharing where you got the folding table from @ 3:34. TIA!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

It is a King Camp table from Amazon. So far it has been pretty good! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q2SK6TE

[@jamesgreen4770]

Super cool video. How are you getting on with the stove? Looks like a great solution...

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks!! The cook top is great. We have been using it on all our trips for over a year and a half now and it is amazing. It is called a Tembo Tusk Skottle. Highly recommended 👌

[@Aer_Marique]

Lunar lander... I'm so pissed I didn't think of that first 😂

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Haha there are a few people on Instagram that have similar names for their Lunar Rock colored RAVs (lunar rover, lunar lander, etc.)

[@stenciljunkie]

What’s your roof rack setup? We used the OEM bars, but were considering upgrading since were at the load capacity with our RTT and we want to add an awning

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We are using a Frontrunner Slimline rack system. There is also a Prinsu rack available for the RAV4 that is popular.

[@jakephan2872]

@@LunarLanderXplor what sku number of frontrunner slimline rack if you have? I emailed to Front runner and they do not have a fitment for that style roof rail. Thanks!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Yea they don't have a fitment specifically designed for the RAV4 TRD or Adventure roof rails. We went directly to the FrontRunner shop in SoCal and they worked out a fitment with other parts. Here are the SKUs we were invoiced for: Slimline II Tray - 1255mm(W) X 1156mm(L) - by Front Runner SKU: RRSTD06 Rail Foot Base (Pair) - by Front Runner SKU: GOFR001 Raised Rail Inner Grab-On / A - by Front Runner SKU: GORR070 Raised Rail Outer Grab-On / No. 3 - by Front Runner SKU: GORR052

[@HotSizzleTV_]

Do you have links for your i tent , I camper mini I think you called it, and all your equipment especially the tarp cover. “ where to buy them” I plan to buy an Rav4 xse also if you have a sunroof or panoramic sunroof will this set up work ? Also do you have videos of how to install the tent set up?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

www.ikamper.com/products/skycamp-mini/ We had it professionally installed at a shop. Not sure about the panoramic roof, but it works fine with our normal sunroof!

[@csomreggie]

Happen to have any of the pins or locations of where you camped? I'm heading up Friday morning

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Hey, yes I do have GPS locations for the campsites. Is there a way I can DM to you?

[@csomreggie]

@@LunarLanderXplor my ig is @tyrannosaurus_reg

[@jackvickrey4758]

@@LunarLanderXplor anyway you can message me a pin of that spot overlooking the lake? Headed up Saturday with my son. Ig: walnuts-n-wood

[@KimChuTV]

What map/app do you use to find trails for low off-road clearance vehicles with camping spots?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We use a combination of Gaia GPS and Google Maps. Gaia has a ton of layers that are useful for understanding what is private vs public land, and also there are overlays for forest roads. We use Google satellite view to zoom in on areas and look for potential campsites and mark them on the map before our trips! In general we find the forest roads in National Forests are mostly accessible with our vehicle.

[@KimChuTV]

@@LunarLanderXplor Thanks for the info! This is a great tip. I really appreciate it.

[@stalos1982]

Are you using the Toyota OEM crossbars for the iKamler?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We are using a FrontRunner rack that grabs onto the stock TRD/Adventure raised roof rails. So far it has been excellent, and we have our tent, awning, and recovery boards mounted to the rack full-time.

[@stalos1982]

@@LunarLanderXplor do you have a link to the exact one ? I just picked up the Rav TRD this week.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Unfortunately I do not have a link. The rack system we have was setup directly at the FrontRunner shop in SoCal, as they do not have a rack system specifically for the TRD yet. They basically tested it out on our rig to figure out fitment for a production rack that should be available later this year. I would suggest getting in contact with FrontRunner to ask about the TRD rack, or if another grab on system would work with the TRD rails.

[@joseandrade8142]

What kind of lighter did you use to start the fire in your grill/stove? @3:38

[@LunarLanderXplor]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PJLDVBD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@Soloriderpowder]

How long is ur cross bar. I was thinking about getting 2-3 person yakima skyrise. I already have Yakima slim shady. What size cross bar should I get

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We don't have a traditional cross-bar on our roof, we have a Frontrunner Slimline II platform rack instead, as its a bit more versatile on what you can mount on it. Not sure about cross bar length, I would recommend checking the requirements of the tent!

[@MR-zn4rj]

Sweet video my man, only thing I would suggest is some way to stabalize the shots - otherwise the production value is outstanding. I'll keep an eye out for more of these vids from you.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thank you! We actually just got a new gimbal that we are still learning how to use properly.

[@gregpatterson134]

Have ya'll had fuel pump issues? Wonder if the 21 rav will get this fix in production, or will it carryover and they count on slow recall process to fix? I love this car, but so many reported issues. Forester and Honda Passport are other options, but passport much bigger and lower gas mileage, but sweet v6 and tons of cargo space. Forester, works but Rav seems to beat off road and on road, plus potential windshield, cvt, head gaskets..... Where best to spend 35k to get a reliable awd softroader? Thanks,

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Hey Greg, no fuel pump issues on our end! Really no issues whatsoever. The RAV has been great. The Passport does look great, have you seen JohnDZ's videos? He has some awesome upgrades & content on his passport.

[@gregpatterson134]

@@LunarLanderXplor Yes, he has a great set up and great content. It would be great dedicated weekender, but don't know if it would be too big for my daily use. Thanks for all the great replies.

[@HmongGuitarPlayer]

Where can I get the frying thing you cook on I need one.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Its called a Skottle, made by Tembo Tusk: tembotusk.com/

[@HmongGuitarPlayer]

@@LunarLanderXplor Much appreciated thank you so much

[@firstglance5204]

What route did you take to get to your spot?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We started at Lake Pillsbury, and went up the M1 up to Hull Mountain. From there, we continued up the M1 to find the 2nd campsite. On the last day, we made our way across the M6 to our final campsite.

[@miaterrio9858]

What were you grilling on?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

It is called a skottle, made by Tembo Tusk! Really fun to cook on, and super durable for offroading / camping. We show it in a bit more detail in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/povcp5xsntuHj68

[@sarahv_l1587]

Wait that curry soup looks so good! Can you share the recipe 😂💛?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Sorry for the delay! Yes it was amazing! We don't really use recipes to be honest, but if you look for a Thai Chicken Coconut Curry, that is essentially what the dish is 💛

[@wolfstriker3992]

What are the requirements for off roading do you need to get a OHV sticker or your regular street license is ok

[@LunarLanderXplor]

No stickers needed!

[@wolfstriker3992]

@@LunarLanderXplor ok thanks

[@davidrivers2385]

what brand is your skottle?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

It is made by Tembo Tusk: tembotusk.com/ We absolutely love it. It is our primary cook top for all our camping trips (except backpacking of course).

[@NTZiggy]

We are about to buy the 2020 model RAV4, as, supposedly, it's possible to sleep two people inside it. You guys ever tried that? (for now, the roof top tent is not a possibility). For the passed 6 years, we used a Mazda 5 (sliding doors) and hope we can have same experience in the RAV4... any comments?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Before we got the rooftop tent, we did try sleeping in the back of the RAV once. Dijana and I are pretty short (5'2" and 5'8"), and we barely fit in the back. The issue is the seats don't fold 100% flat, and if you extend your legs you may not completely fit. If you don't mind having your legs bent and being at a slight angle, it could work. Dijana fit just fine, but for me at 5'8" even it was tight. I think if you build a flat sleeping platform in the back you could make it more comfortable.

[@NTZiggy]

@@LunarLanderXplor Thank you very much for your reply. Converting your height to centimeters, i suppose we are in the same boat. A bit of bending never hurt anyone, so i guess we will have a go. Just signed up for a test drive of the RAV4 :)

[@LunarLanderXplor]

During your test drive, just fold down the back seats and try laying down ;)

[@michaelptm2269]

How do you run you run your fridge?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We have it plugged into a Dometic PLB40 battery, and we bring a solar panel for trips where we play to stay in one spot for more than 2 days. We show a bit more detail about it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gniwqphrnNJsj7c

[@michaelptm2269]

@@LunarLanderXplor thank you I’m going to check it out now!

[@Soloriderpowder]

If I put this rooftop tent on my RAV4 full time, u think it would miss up car suspension in long term

[@LunarLanderXplor]

No, it's 125lbs so the same weight as carrying a passenger in your car.

[@zerokool-2058]

Curious, how has your gas mileage been? After adding the roof top tent and things in the back? Even if is just an rough estimate. Just want an idea. And how much did you lift it?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We added a 2.5" spacer lift front & back, and added the stiffer springs in just the rear (to help with the sag in the back when loaded with gear). Total we gained at least 3" ground clearance since we were lowest in the back before. With the tent, awning, lift & full of gear for trips, we get about 25MPG on the highway. Before all the upgrades I think we got about 28ish if we drove as efficiently as possible. (the lift was not on the vehicle in this video though)

[@zerokool-2058]

@@LunarLanderXplor Thanks man. That helps me. So I have an idea.. thinking of lifting my RAV4 as well and adding tires. So 245/65R17 or bigger.. I’ll look at 3inch lift.

[@DylanPankow]

Hello fellow KZbin creator and explorer of the MNF. I wanted to write to introduce myself.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Hello! Looks like you are quite the expert on the MNF area! This was our first trip and we loved it. Definitely planning to explore again soon.

[@DylanPankow]

@@LunarLanderXplor Please stay in touch, I go every couple weeks. I like to meet new people!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

@@DylanPankow Absolutely! I'll keep you in mind next time we head up there!

[@DylanPankow]

Hull Mtn is swell, but it's where almost everyone goes. Lots of trucks, bikes and guns. Don't get me wrong, I shoot and ride, but I like privacy also. Did you make the trip all the way to FH7 on the M1? Where abouts do you live? I'm in Windsor CA.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Yea we definitely appreciate privacy as well. Our first (and only) trip was 3 nights. We started at Lake Pillsbury, went up Hull Mtn and beyond, took the M6 I believe across to the East, and exited on Alder Spring road. Overall we didn't see too many people and it was nice and secluded at our campsites (except maybe the 1st on the way up Hull Mtn). The roads were great and no problem for our small AWD (no big 4x4 needed in what we experienced). We live down in Oakland!

[@Boogiebagflipper]

Meat clever for tomato cutting? 😂

[@LunarLanderXplor]

I know lol.... Its a great knife all around, and when we are out camping we try to minimize the number of knives we use so we don't have to clean up so much & waste our water. (we actually got a newer cleaver style knife & use it for cutting everything)

[@jaimecastillojr1421]

Vegetarians that eat chicken? hmm....

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We are not vegetarians! However, we do eat beyond beef quite a lot :)

[@archebi]

next time lose the music, i wanna hear the vehicle struggle or if its having a good time.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Oh its having a good time :)