Sounds like gear is jerking, its advisable to change the gear oil and filter immediately and if still happen show to some good mechanic who can advise further by actually feeling the jerk.
Rav4 is good and bad in desert. Due to its just adequate power driver need to really learn how to negotiate dunes while climbing and at what speed. Once you learn that you will enjoy, or else you will hate it.
Go ahead and try and then only you will get the bug. Good luck and be safe.
Its not made for extreme, but occasional dune bashing over weekend is fine. 4.0 is better than 2.7 version im sure you know this.
Little careful while side sloping as fortuner is little more tall and narrow build so you always have risk of toppling it more than in LC or Prado. But all in all its good if you drive sensibly.
is changing the air filter part of major car service as when giving the break up of the cost the air filter addition is expensive
can i change it my self
they are charging me 200 just for the labour
please help