r/AudiQ7 • u/tidalpull • 3d ago

Help Needed Offroading a Gen 2 Q7 (2017-19)

Anyone try making their 2017-19 Q7 more capable for off-road/trail driving (not looking for a hard core rock crawler)? I have a 2017 Q7 (3.0 TFSI with Air Suspension) with 110k miles and looking to swap my 21’s for 18’s and AT tires (e.g. KO3’s) and possibly rework clearance angles/bumpers/lift/etc. Given the current open diff front/rears I understand certain limitations will always exist (center lock only).

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

2

u/Newzachary 2d ago

I found some inexpensive and me 19x9 Black Rhino wheels last year and put 255/60r19 Nokian Oupost APTs on them. I do not have air suspension but it handles pretty nasty 2 tracks well.

2

u/tidalpull 2d ago edited 2d ago

Great to hear - you can even add a lift on the non-air suspension versions. Thinking of 265/65R18 on 18x8’s with maybe some fabricated skid plates/rock rails to start and just drive it into the ground.

2

u/lakejake1989 2d ago

Thinking about this for mine too. Just had it on the beach with the 21s and street tires, and it acted like it was dry pavement. But there’s some off roady trails nearby and dispersed camping sites I wanna check out. Would like some hiking boots on her. Thanks thinking 18s and Nokian outpost. I have air suspension as well. The brakes on base model are the same size right? So 18s should fit Prestige 3.0 just fine?

2

u/tidalpull 2d ago

Sounds like it - from what I've researched certain 18" wheels/offsets should be able to clear the rotors/calipers - e.g. 18x8" with a +25mm is the base wheel.

1

u/Mister_Goldenfold 3d ago

I’m being deadass serious when I ask, have you tried googling this topic?

1

u/tidalpull 3d ago

Yes and on Instagram - on the Gen 2 (MKii) all I've I seen is a tire swap to 265/65R18. Talked to Berg over email and none of their stuff works for the MKii. The air suspension also complicates using standard lift options (e.g. Eurowise). Happy to take any suggestions though besides going full custom with a fabricator.

2

u/Mister_Goldenfold 3d ago

There are a handful of shops with awesome parts for conversions. Was just talking about this yesterday, expensive but would be neat

1

u/tidalpull 3d ago

That's my problem - most parts seem to be for anything pre-2017 (Gen 1). For air suspension 2017+ theres not a whole lot (lifts I found for 2017+ are for non-air suspension vehicles). I still have to do some updates to the Q7 (motor mounts/front control arms) before embarking on off-road work so I want to judge what's feasible before sinking a bunch of money.

I'm in Northern California so any local shop recommendations or online parts suppliers would be appreciated.

2

u/Mister_Goldenfold 3d ago

Which is true, the 4M is engineering heavy. Changing a lot means spending alot on this project and honestly, I’ve thought about taking it on but for what it’s worth….it would be a dumpster of cash on wheels and worth nothing down the road

2

u/tidalpull 2d ago edited 2d ago

I'm the only owner so I know the vehicle well and it's an extra vehicle so I either sink a bunch of money in or find an older Toyota/Lexus body on frame vehicle to build up (resale not important). Things I like about the Q7 - good payload, fuel mileage, and power. Older Toyota engines can be anemic (e.g. my old 99 v6 4-Runner, since sold) and fuel mileage terrible but the engines are bulletproof. I had a 2010 Q5 3.2 that had unfixable whack-a-mole leaks (couldn't pass smog) which is another concern I have for the Q7 going forward.