Expedition Master I
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- First Name
- Drew
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- Hawley
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1537
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Congrats and good luck with your Subaru! Feel free to send me a PM with any questions you have!
...but it's a Subaru Outback?! Build thread.
- Thread starter Wawa Skittletits
- Start date
Contributor I
Having gone with the Primitive plates and the LP bumper, would you do that again or stick with LP for both?
Expedition Master I
- 5,079
- First Name
- Drew
- Last Name
- Hawley
- Member #
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1537
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- WRBZ674
- Service Branch
- USN veteran
I would. I prefer to remove a smaller plate for oil changes vs one large plate the size of two. The Primitive plate does have to be trimmed slightly to work with the LP bumper guard but its a simple job.
Contributor I
Thanks so much .. I've ordered the Primitive Plates for now ... and we'll see about the LP bumper. Great thread ... I"m sure I'll be back with more questions.
Enthusiast III
Ahh hate to see this thread come to an end. I've had a good time reading through it the past few days doing research on getting a OB. Just bought a new to me 2019 3.6, ordered some 245/65/17 KO2s with the LP1s. Hope this tread can come back and give some more motivation!
Enthusiast III
I hope it doesn't but no one has posted in almost a year. Your OB looks great, hoping to get some more items for mine in the coming weeks/months, just have wheels and tires on the way currently.
Member III
By far the nicest looking outback I've seen! Reminds me of a local to me Forester, very similar colour scheme and look. same wheels too! Really good look.
dennisblass
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
dennisblass
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
WaWa Skittletits, great thread. Thanks for sharing your mods. Your Subaru looks terrific. I have a 2017 that I bought new. The warranty is over so its time to make some mods and pursue a bucket list item doing the Trans America Trail. My thinking is start with tires, skid plate, and brush guard. Then do the lift. I've never considered a lift over two inches. Did going higher create install problems such as brake lines? Did going higher cause any problems with suspension linkage? Thanks. Dennis
Expedition Master I
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- First Name
- Drew
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- Hawley
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1537
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Thank you @dennisblass! Tires and armor will go a long way towards making your car a lot more capable. I’m compelled to mention the only ‘brush guard’ that I consider worth it is the LP bumper guard. Sadly it’s a pricey bugger but mine put in more work than any other protection piece on the car. It’s not even close and as a result completely worth it.
There’s a lot of false information out there when it comes to lifting, at the very least, the 5th gen. Lifting beyond 2” being one of them. I had no real issues with anything but lifting above 2” requires additional purchases like camber bolts up front and camber arms for the rear. The wheel fitment starts to get goofy due to the radius of the LCA so I was running 25mm front and 15mm rear spacers with 45 offset 17x8 to keep things flush. Over the course of 60k miles I prematurely replaced the left front axle and just replaced the right front when I removed the lift springs. It had been a little chatty when making all the way to lock and in the throttle right hand turns. If it weren’t for the struts coming out I’d still be driving on them worry free. I can say with extreme confidence that my affinity for drifting in snow is what shortened their life. 100%
The TAT is a great bucket lister! Doing to in a Subaru will be a lot cheaper, more quiet, and all around more comfortable than with any of the more traditional off/soft road vehicles you’d find. It’s capabilities require a learning curve to get the most out of it because the intrusive electrical nannies can actual create problems. The learning curve is how to avoid putting yourself in those situations and dealing with them when you can’t avoid them.
Once again welcome Dennis! I look forward to seeing your adventures.
There’s a lot of false information out there when it comes to lifting, at the very least, the 5th gen. Lifting beyond 2” being one of them. I had no real issues with anything but lifting above 2” requires additional purchases like camber bolts up front and camber arms for the rear. The wheel fitment starts to get goofy due to the radius of the LCA so I was running 25mm front and 15mm rear spacers with 45 offset 17x8 to keep things flush. Over the course of 60k miles I prematurely replaced the left front axle and just replaced the right front when I removed the lift springs. It had been a little chatty when making all the way to lock and in the throttle right hand turns. If it weren’t for the struts coming out I’d still be driving on them worry free. I can say with extreme confidence that my affinity for drifting in snow is what shortened their life. 100%
The TAT is a great bucket lister! Doing to in a Subaru will be a lot cheaper, more quiet, and all around more comfortable than with any of the more traditional off/soft road vehicles you’d find. It’s capabilities require a learning curve to get the most out of it because the intrusive electrical nannies can actual create problems. The learning curve is how to avoid putting yourself in those situations and dealing with them when you can’t avoid them.
Once again welcome Dennis! I look forward to seeing your adventures.
Expedition Master I
- 5,079
- First Name
- Drew
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- Hawley
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1537
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Apologies @DrockinWV, I totally missed your post. Yes the car has been on it’s way back towards stock-ish for a little while now. After punting the deer I was forced to endure a lot of headaches because of an awful body shop and it really soured the car to me. It took 18 months to get it back to how it should be but at the same time I’ve also outgrown it a bit while also approaching a mileage milestone. Time to move on so most of the mods have been removed. Congrats and good luck with yours! I’m not going anywhere so I’ll always be available if you ever have any questions!
Expedition Master I
- 5,079
- First Name
- Drew
- Last Name
- Hawley
- Member #
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1537
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- WRBZ674
- Service Branch
- USN veteran
Well I figure the time has come to close one chapter and start a new one. My new Bison has already undergone some changes and it’s already proven to be an absolute billy goat off road. I will certainly miss the Subaru’s mpg but this thing has reignited the passion. Thanks to everyone who followed along but it’s time to start a new build thread...
Enthusiast III
Nice! I went from an Outback to a GMT700 (GMC Canyon, not as cool as a Bison, but still) and realized how much low range does for ya. Can't wait to see the new build thread.
AggieOE
Rank IV
Advocate II
Congratulations on the Bison! Those things are awesome!
Sorry to hear about the body shop headaches though. My 4Runner is in the shop again now after poor repairs done in 2019 from a wreck. The poor repairs Soured it for me as well over the last two years and we almost traded it for a new one but figured I'd let them have one more attempt at getting it back to how it was before the wreck. Little gremlins and small annoyances can really ruin the rest of the fun so I don't blame you. Plus!! This Bison is such a great platform.
Time to learn to embrace the cliche "Smiles per Gallon, not Miles per Gallon"
...You'll get tired of hearing that lol
Sorry to hear about the body shop headaches though. My 4Runner is in the shop again now after poor repairs done in 2019 from a wreck. The poor repairs Soured it for me as well over the last two years and we almost traded it for a new one but figured I'd let them have one more attempt at getting it back to how it was before the wreck. Little gremlins and small annoyances can really ruin the rest of the fun so I don't blame you. Plus!! This Bison is such a great platform.
Time to learn to embrace the cliche "Smiles per Gallon, not Miles per Gallon"
...You'll get tired of hearing that lol
I am in the process of buying a 2023 Outback Onyx. I was convinced I wanted a Green one, but after seeing your white one, I think the white one I have coming will be perfect.
I assume yours is stock height? What size are the KO2s? How bad did they effect your mileage?
I love the look of your car, very well done.
