2018 Subaru Forester

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Slippery Chuck

Rank III
Launch Member

Enthusiast III

646
Buffalo, New York, United States
First Name
Charlie
Last Name
Finn
Member #

12422

This i s my 2018 Subaru Forester with a 6-speed manual.
I bought it in the fall of 2017 with 7 miles on the odo.

First up; wheels and tires. I replaced the stock setup with Method MR502 VT-Spec wheels 15x7 and General Grabber AT2's 205/75R15.

IMG_20180428_075128725.jpg



I built a roof cage a few years previously for an older model Impreza that I added to the Forester. Unfortunately I did not document the build but it's just some Sch.40 PVC pipe and fittings, surprisingly rigid.

Snapchat-1799111182.jpg IMG_20180116_133203334.jpg



I love the look of round lights over LED bars. I mounted a pair of Hella 500's to the bumper with a piece of Unistrut and then cantilevered some plates through the grill. Here's a CAD model of the assembly:

Hella Mount.JPG IMG_20180407_123703221.jpg



Sometimes when you go camping it's hard to find a good spot to set up the tent so I keep all my gear on the roof. This saves room inside the vehicle to sleep. I have two Plano cases, recovery tracks, a 5 gallon gas can and a shovel.

IMG_20180728_165739275.jpg IMG_20180504_144447850.jpg



Another problem I was beginning to have was scraping the front bumper. To Increase the approach angle I bought a cheap bumper cover (to spare my stock painted bumper) and chopped it up prerunner style.

IMG_20180810_161121245.jpg IMG_20180810_164732106.jpg


IMG_20180825_154902725.jpg IMG_20180825_154838570.jpg



To help with the angles and ride height I installed a 2" lift kit made by Anderson Design & Fab. This is a body lift using strut spacers and rear multi-link spacers.

IMG_20180901_103726325.jpg IMG_20180901_103806831_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg

IMG_20180901_104213605.jpg



Under body protection made by Primitive Racing.

IMG_20180909_113826686.jpg



DIY 8' x 6' awning:

This is a 6' piece of 4" Sch. 40 PVC with a cap on one end and a clean-out on the other
(Update: I no longer use this. Swapped to an Ironman 6.5'x8' awning in 2021)

IMG_20180901_153114683.jpg IMG_20180901_153051161.jpg

As a way to attach the tarp to the roof I liquid nailed a piece of 1" x .5" wood to the 4" pipe. Then I screwed male end snaps into the wood.

IMG_20180901_171455911.jpg

Here is the tool I used to attached the female end of the snaps to the tarp.

IMG_20180901_193851524.jpg IMG_20180902_125041101.jpg

There area a total of 9 snaps and they hold quite a lot of tension. I grabbed some adjustable poles from Cabella's which I roll up inside the tarp and it all slides into the 4" pipe.

IMG_20180911_143302090.jpg IMG_20180911_143314332.jpg IMG_20180911_143228843.jpg



Decided on Falken Wildpeak A/T's 235/75R15 which are 29" vs the previous 27". The Forester is now 3" taller than stock.

IMG_20180926_140104477.jpg

IMG_20181028_125919008.jpg



New for the Forester in 2019: Hitch mounter tire/Rotopak carrier by Rigd Supply and ditch lights... and of course some gangly mudflaps made out of an old Weathertech trunk liner.

IMG_20190802_132141.jpg IMG_20190802_132131.jpg

IMG_20190726_090836.jpg IMG_20190802_132203.jpg



For a while I had the rear seats removed to gain more storage space but this took away a flat surface if I wanted to sleep in my car. First I 3D scanned the Forester then modeled a platform with hatches to access my gear underneath. The frame is made out of 2x2's and the top is 1/2" plywood.

subaru scan.jpg IMG_20190917_205653.jpg

IMG_20190915_132523.jpg IMG_20190925_181508.jpg

IMG_20191002_170336.jpg IMG_20191002_170303.jpg



The only addition in 2020 is a rear differential locker made by Torq-Masters. These 'Aussie Lockers' are a full-time mechanical locker without the use of a compressor, air lines, cables or electrical wiring. When turning, the device will ratchet allowing the wheels to turn at different rates, acting similar to an open diff. I've had noticeable improvements in uphill climbs and scenarios where one of my rear wheels is off the ground.

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2021 was a busy year in my personal life, including a move from NY to AZ. I packed everything up and drove the Forester 2,300 miles with my dog and two cats. Arizona has certainly put myself and the Forester to the test! I am blown away at how many legitimate offroad trails there are here compared to NY and PA with somewhere around 70-80% of the state being public land. The most notable trails I have completed are just outside of Sedona; Outlaw Trail and Diamondback Gulch. However the forester has had some additional upgrades prior to conquering these trails since my previous post:

Flatout Suspension GR Lite adjustable coilovers. These allow me to fine tune my ride height and stiffness as well as provide more suspension travel. Although they're shown in the photo below, I also completely removed my front and rear sway bars.

IMG_20210911_163526.jpg IMG_20210913_174202.jpg
IMG_20210917_163527.jpg 2021-10-21_20-51-28.jpg


RalliTEK Rock Sliders. These were not cheap by any means but probably the best investment so far. As opposed to the other Subaru 'rock sliders' in the market, these bolt to the pinch weld in several locations as well as the body at the front and rear.

GOPR0824.JPG IMG_20220224_174647.jpg
GOPR08241.jpg


The trails here in AZ have also convinced me to add the Primitive transmission and rear diff skid plates. A cheap rear bumper was also cut up and installed to help with the departure angle. Also around this time, I swapped out the old flimsy Subaru bottle with a tough Nalgene bottle to act as my windshield washer reservoir.

IMG_20220224_174633.jpg IMG_20220224_174704.jpg
GOPR0738.JPG IMG_20210910_063909.jpg IMG_20210910_064752.jpg


As much as I liked having the spare wheel/gas hitch carrier, it got snagged up on too many rocks since it hung off the rear bumper quite a ways. I ended up adding more unistrut to the roof crossbars to mount the spare tire up there. I also wired up some chase lights since it gets very dusty here in AZ and visibility is key when riding in a group. I didn't want to drill holes in the roof and since I was tying these lights into the same circuit as the ditch lights, I ran the wired up the windshield using KC's Wire Hider. And lastly I swapped out the DIY awning with an Ironman 4x4 6.5'x8' awning.

GOPR0822.JPG GOPR0823.JPG
IMG_20211108_173140.jpg IMG_20211126_171445.jpg
IMG_20211108_173222.jpg


Seeing this vehicle transform over the past four years has been very exciting. My driving skills as well as the Foresters capabilities have grown far beyond what I originally imagined. Recently passing 50,000 miles on the odometer, I reminisce back to when I bought this car with 7 miles and only knew I enjoyed the outdoors and wanted a way to get further off grid on those weekend trips. And here we are in 2023 keeping up with Jeeps and Toyotas on some of the most challenging trails Arizona has to offer!

Thanks for checking out my build and stay tuned! Feel free to check out my instagram as well : vagrant_roo
 

Attachments

Last edited:

graybaker

Rank III

Advocate I

778
San Francisco, California, United States
First Name
Gray
Last Name
Baker
This i s my 2018 Subaru Forester with a 6-speed manual.
I bought it in the fall of 2017 with 7 miles on the odo.

First up; wheels and tires. I replaced the stock setup with Method MR502 VT-Spec wheels 15x7 and General Grabber AT2's 205/75R15.

View attachment 69246



I built a roof cage a few years previously for an older model Impreza that I added to the Forester. Unfortunately I did not document the build but it's just some Sch.40 PVC pipe and fittings, surprisingly rigid.

View attachment 69247 View attachment 69248



I love the look of round lights over LED bars. I mounted a pair of Hella 500's to the bumper with a piece of Unistrut and then cantilevered some plates through the grill. Here's a CAD model of the assembly:

View attachment 69249 View attachment 69250



Sometimes when you go camping it's hard to find a good spot to set up the tent so I keep all my gear on the roof. This saves room inside the vehicle to sleep. I have two Plano cases, recovery tracks, a 5 gallon gas can and a shovel.

View attachment 69251 View attachment 69252



Another problem I was beginning to have was scraping the front bumper. To Increase the approach angle I bought a cheap bumper cover (to spare my stock painted bumper) and cut in half prerunner style.

View attachment 69253 View attachment 69254

My boy Oli hanging out the window.

View attachment 69255 View attachment 69256



To help with the angles and ride height I installed a 2" lift kit made by Anderson Design & Fab. This is a body lift using strut spacers and rear multi-link spacers.

View attachment 69259 View attachment 69260

View attachment 69261



Under body protection made by Primitive Racing.

View attachment 69262



DIY 8' x 6' awning:

This is a 6' piece of 4" Sch. 40 PVC with a cap on one end and a clean-out on the other

View attachment 69272 View attachment 69270

As a way to attach the tarp to the roof I liquid nailed a piece of 1" x .5" wood to the 4" pipe. Then I screwed male end snaps into the wood.

View attachment 69273

Here is the tool I used to attached the female end of the snaps to the tarp.

View attachment 69274 View attachment 69275

There area a total of 9 snaps and they hold quite a lot of tension. I grabbed some adjustable poles from Cabella's which I roll up inside the tarp and it all slides into the 4" pipe.

View attachment 69276 View attachment 69278 View attachment 69277



Decided on Falken Wildpeak A/T's 235/75R15 which are 29" vs the previous 27". The Forester is now 3" taller than stock.

View attachment 86774

View attachment 86775



New for the Forester this year: Hitch mounter tire/Rotopak carrier by Rigd Supply and ditch lights... and of course some gangly mudflaps made out of an old Weathertech trunk liner.

View attachment 110648 View attachment 110649

View attachment 110651 View attachment 110650



For a while I had the rear seats removed to gain more storage space but this took away a flat surface if I wanted to sleep in my car. First I 3D scanned the Forester then modeled a platform with hatches to access my gear underneath. The frame is made out of 2x2's and the top is 1/2" plywood.

View attachment 124945 View attachment 124946

View attachment 124947 View attachment 124948

View attachment 124949 View attachment 124950

Future plans:
Solar generator
Plates to tie skid plate into bumper cover for a cleaner look

Thanks for checking out my build and stay tuned!
Beautiful Build! What are the general dimensions for the bed/storage? I built a rig that sits on top of the trunk/seats but I sleep pretty close to the roof so I like how low yours' is.
 

Slippery Chuck

Rank III
Launch Member

Enthusiast III

646
Buffalo, New York, United States
First Name
Charlie
Last Name
Finn
Member #

12422

This i s my 2018 Subaru Forester with a 6-speed manual.
I bought it in the fall of 2017 with 7 miles on the odo.

First up; wheels and tires. I replaced the stock setup with Method MR502 VT-Spec wheels 15x7 and General Grabber AT2's 205/75R15.

View attachment 69246



I built a roof cage a few years previously for an older model Impreza that I added to the Forester. Unfortunately I did not document the build but it's just some Sch.40 PVC pipe and fittings, surprisingly rigid.

View attachment 69247 View attachment 69248



I love the look of round lights over LED bars. I mounted a pair of Hella 500's to the bumper with a piece of Unistrut and then cantilevered some plates through the grill. Here's a CAD model of the assembly:

View attachment 69249 View attachment 69250



Sometimes when you go camping it's hard to find a good spot to set up the tent so I keep all my gear on the roof. This saves room inside the vehicle to sleep. I have two Plano cases, recovery tracks, a 5 gallon gas can and a shovel.

View attachment 69251 View attachment 69252



Another problem I was beginning to have was scraping the front bumper. To Increase the approach angle I bought a cheap bumper cover (to spare my stock painted bumper) and cut in half prerunner style.

View attachment 69253 View attachment 69254

My boy Oli hanging out the window.

View attachment 69255 View attachment 69256



To help with the angles and ride height I installed a 2" lift kit made by Anderson Design & Fab. This is a body lift using strut spacers and rear multi-link spacers.

View attachment 69259 View attachment 69260

View attachment 69261



Under body protection made by Primitive Racing.

View attachment 69262



DIY 8' x 6' awning:

This is a 6' piece of 4" Sch. 40 PVC with a cap on one end and a clean-out on the other

View attachment 69272 View attachment 69270

As a way to attach the tarp to the roof I liquid nailed a piece of 1" x .5" wood to the 4" pipe. Then I screwed male end snaps into the wood.

View attachment 69273

Here is the tool I used to attached the female end of the snaps to the tarp.

View attachment 69274 View attachment 69275

There area a total of 9 snaps and they hold quite a lot of tension. I grabbed some adjustable poles from Cabella's which I roll up inside the tarp and it all slides into the 4" pipe.

View attachment 69276 View attachment 69278 View attachment 69277



Decided on Falken Wildpeak A/T's 235/75R15 which are 29" vs the previous 27". The Forester is now 3" taller than stock.

View attachment 86774

View attachment 86775



New for the Forester this year: Hitch mounter tire/Rotopak carrier by Rigd Supply and ditch lights... and of course some gangly mudflaps made out of an old Weathertech trunk liner.

View attachment 110648 View attachment 110649

View attachment 110651 View attachment 110650



For a while I had the rear seats removed to gain more storage space but this took away a flat surface if I wanted to sleep in my car. First I 3D scanned the Forester then modeled a platform with hatches to access my gear underneath. The frame is made out of 2x2's and the top is 1/2" plywood.

View attachment 124945 View attachment 124946

View attachment 124947 View attachment 124948

View attachment 124949 View attachment 124950

Future plans:
Solar generator
Plates to tie skid plate into bumper cover for a cleaner look

Thanks for checking out my build and stay tuned!
Beautiful Build! What are the general dimensions for the bed/storage? I built a rig that sits on top of the trunk/seats but I sleep pretty close to the roof so I like how low yours' is.

Thanks Graybaker! It's 70" long , 54" wide at rear doors / 42" wide at rear wheels, and between 29" and 31" of vertical space.
 

graybaker

Rank III

Advocate I

778
San Francisco, California, United States
First Name
Gray
Last Name
Baker
Wow that's nice. I probably have 18" of space after putting my mattress pad on top and I'm 6'1 lol. Have you noticed that you use your DIY roof rack more than your sky box posted in the original photo? I have a Thule Force XL and I love it for camping/snowboarding but on long road trips it really hampers my mpg. I also have a 2018 forester so I'm loving this post.
 

Slippery Chuck

Rank III
Launch Member

Enthusiast III

646
Buffalo, New York, United States
First Name
Charlie
Last Name
Finn
Member #

12422

Wow that's nice. I probably have 18" of space after putting my mattress pad on top and I'm 6'1 lol. Have you noticed that you use your DIY roof rack more than your sky box posted in the original photo? I have a Thule Force XL and I love it for camping/snowboarding but on long road trips it really hampers my mpg. I also have a 2018 forester so I'm loving this post.
Gray, I apologize for the very late response! The sky box is pretty much on top fill time these days unless I need to transport 2 kayaks. It's more practical for storing dirty items like traction boards, used clothes/towels, etc. I don't even have the DIY cage anymore. I appreciate the interest, I'm glad to see fellow Forester owners in the offroad community. I tend to see a lot more Crosstreks out there than Foresters.

Keep an eye out for more updates on my build. I haven't posted anything in almost 2 years so I have some new things to share!
 

Psuss99

Rank I

Contributor III

124
Fairfield, CT, USA
First Name
Paul
Last Name
Sussman
Hey I know this is an older post but I just got a 2017 forester and have hella 500s from my old truck. I'm just hoping you could go into a little more detail on how you mounted them. I get the concept but I don't see how it mounts
 

Slippery Chuck

Rank III
Launch Member

Enthusiast III

646
Buffalo, New York, United States
First Name
Charlie
Last Name
Finn
Member #

12422

Hey I know this is an older post but I just got a 2017 forester and have hella 500s from my old truck. I'm just hoping you could go into a little more detail on how you mounted them. I get the concept but I don't see how it mounts
The unistrut sat on top of the metal crash bar and was secured with bolts vertically through the crash bar. I believe there were already holes in the crash bar that I used. I don't have pictures of that setup unfortunately.
 

Slippery Chuck

Rank III
Launch Member

Enthusiast III

646
Buffalo, New York, United States
First Name
Charlie
Last Name
Finn
Member #

12422

The unistrut sat on top of the metal crash bar and was secured with bolts vertically through the crash bar. I believe there were already holes in the crash bar that I used. I don't have pictures of that setup unfortunately.
Do you remember the dimensions?
Not exactly. That was 6 years ago and I haven't had the Forester for 2 years now. Roughly though, the unistrut was around 24" long (I think it was 1-5/8" strut). And the arms that supported the lights were probably 8"-10" long.
 
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