Enthusiast I
Enthusiast I
Member III
Welcome!
Enthusiast III
Enthusiast III
Member III
Add engine, transmission & differential skid plates underneath and a set of rock sliders with some decent AT tires and you'll be good to go. You may not make it through everything without the lift & bigger tires, but you will protect your car from damage that could occur from lack of clearance - but if you're going with some friends in trucks it won't take much to tug your 3500 lbs car free.I still have my 2003 WRX sedan but I don’t overland in it. I’ve gone out some questionable trails following some friends in trucks but the lack of clearance holds it back.
Member III
Enthusiast I
Member III
Personally, I'd recommend getting some more trips under your belt to get a better idea of what you want/need before pulling the trigger on any build outs.Not new here ... but just became a full member today after taking what was my first "real" overland adventure in April with my 2018 Outback to Trona Pinnacles. My only change to the car is 235-60-R18 Wildpeak AT Trails. Now debating between building out the Outback (my daily driver), or just going all in an building out a GX470.
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Contributor II
Contributor II
Enthusiast III
I could do that but then what would I do with the new Frontier :) I never felt the inclination to make the WRX more off-roadable because its just such a blast to hit the windy (paved) back roads in. Low is good for that. So, as I've learned the hard way, if its not broke don't fix it.Add engine, transmission & differential skid plates underneath and a set of rock sliders with some decent AT tires and you'll be good to go. You may not make it through everything without the lift & bigger tires, but you will protect your car from damage that could occur from lack of clearance - but if you're going with some friends in trucks it won't take much to tug your 3500 lbs car free.
Or... you could go all out and build a Psycho-Subie like this guy on Instagram...
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Member I
Member III
The story of a Subie owner's life....doubted the Subbie's ability once he saw the trails, but ended up very impressed...
For me I always doubted it and thought of selling, then was pleasantly surprised - shocked actually - at some of the stuff it could go through. Namely, skipping across mud that would bog heavier vehicles. Something we have a lot of around here.The story of a Subie owner's life.
Welcome!
Member III
I love passing the guys on the trails with the crazy built up rigs in my Subie. They have spent thousands of dollars on full locker packages for their Jeep or Toyota and I am going up the same trail they are in a station wagon with full open differentials. I can't do the rock crawling at OHV parks, but I haven't had much trouble in the region on trails that actually go anywhere. I had a bit of a learning curve to adapt to the CVT transmission and over-protective computer system. It really gets unhappy if you have a tire off the ground for longer than a few seconds, but deleting the rear sway bar and having disconnects for the front have helped that for the most part.For me I always doubted it and thought of selling, then was pleasantly surprised - shocked actually - at some of the stuff it could go through. Namely, skipping across mud that would bog heavier vehicles. Something we have a lot of around here.
I'm at the point now where I'd be driving through the same difficulty of terrain in a more "built" rig anyways, and likely nothing more. I wouldn't feel safe doing more aggressive stuff when I'm alone, regardless of the vehicle. Mostly because I'm in a rig I also call my home; oftentimes for a few months on/off the road. So why not stick with something that still gets excellent MPGs and is comfortable for the whole time - often a very long time - that you're in it? The only reason I'd want to sell the Foz is to get a much larger 4x4 van, truck, or skoolie, but that's comparing apples to oranges here, IMO.
Contributor II
I was gonna ask you on Facebook but since Im already here did you delete both sway bars on the OB?I love passing the guys on the trails with the crazy built up rigs in my Subie. They have spent thousands of dollars on full locker packages for their Jeep or Toyota and I am going up the same trail they are in a station wagon with full open differentials. I can't do the rock crawling at OHV parks, but I haven't had much trouble in the region on trails that actually go anywhere. I had a bit of a learning curve to adapt to the CVT transmission and over-protective computer system. It really gets unhappy if you have a tire off the ground for longer than a few seconds, but deleting the rear sway bar and having disconnects for the front have helped that for the most part.