TheGoatForester "Build"

[NateWW35]

Hello all, thanks again for having me. I've always loved forums, they're so full of information!

I was recommended to post up a build thread of my Forester, and while it's truly all bolt ons, I guess it can still be considered a "build".

2015 Forester 2.5i Premium w/CVT
- Nameless muffler delete (some friends say it sounds like a goat, hence the name , thought I'd throw that out there first)
- 2 inch Sumo Parts lift kit w/rear subframe kit
- Standard height King Springs
- 215/75r15 KO2's w/full-size spare
- (some pics may show my old tires -- 235/75r15 AT3W's)
- 15x7, +15mm Method MR502 VT-Specs
- Primitive Racing 3/16" aluminum engine, CVT, and diff skids
- Drawtite 75876 Class III hitch w/Smittybilt shackle adapter+shackle
- Yakima Timberline towers, round steel crossbars
- RhinoRack medium flat mesh rack
- Pope Overland Expedition Eldorado 2-person RTT
- Nagoya UT-72 stuck to the roof, ran behind the door gaskets to my Anytone 878UV radio
- Raingler cargo divider net
- LOTS of tools, spare parts, supplies, survival gear, etc in the trunk (I can definitely list if someone wants)








Any questions or want pictures of something specific, please feel free to ask! Thanks again!

 

[Dustinfromohio]

Love this build! My work vehicle is a 2004 XT with the STI conversion. They’ve been offering me a new vehicle for over a year now but I just can’t part with it!

 

[Overland_Mitsu]

Nicely done my friend [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

 

[NateWW35]

Thanks everyone!

A couple more pics of some random things I forgot in the original post:

Recently added some shackles to the front tie-down points to be used for recovery (per a recent Subaru-specific recovery training from an I4WDTA certified trainer who recommended bridling these two points vs using just the one OEM screw-in tow eye in the bumper).


Recently got a tablet mount that bolts into one of the seat rail bolts, it's a bit wiggly on the trail, but it's understandable being that the tablet is quite heavy and the arm is 22" long (Also the puppy, Pepper, and my Girlfriend:

Just another pic of the car:

 

[JCWages]

Nice build!

Curious about your switch from Wildpeaks to KO2s. Was it due to size availability?

 

[NateWW35]

Nice build!

Curious about your switch from Wildpeaks to KO2s. Was it due to size availability?

Thanks!

Yep! I wanted something as close to the stock 225/60/17's as possible, to get gearing back to stock, get a bit better power/fuel economy again, etc. These 215/75/15 KO2's are exactly the same circumference, slightly skinnier, and Only about 6lbs per corner heavier than stock.

While I absolutely LOVED the Wildpeaks, the smallest size available was 235/75/15, only slightly taller/wider than stock (roughly an inch both ways), and while I'm not sure that the gearing hit was THAT drastic, being that I'm at or slightly over GVWR when fully loaded, I need every bit of gearing I can get out of the poor thing.

 

[JCWages]

I figured it was something along those lines. I've considered having a 2nd set of wheels/tires with a shorter and lighter tire for long trips where I have zero need for an LT 33" tire.

 

[7YODA5]

Nice build. I’ve come to appreciate Subie AWD and the thought that goes into most of my fellow Subie owner builds since buying my 2014 (now own a 2019) Crosstrek. [emoji869]

 

[NateWW35]

This weekend we traveled north ~2 hours to Rustic, CO to explore some areas we haven't been before. Another lifted SJ Forester and I did SevenMile Rd and Swamp Creek Rd, which are just North of Rustic, or just South of the Red Feather Lakes area.

A few more pictures and a couple videos here:


SevenMile was very fun, slightly rocky, but we had minimal issues:

 

[Salty4Life]

Nice rig. My wife has a ‘16 Forester that she wants to build on. Did you have to shave the brake calipers to fit the 15 inch wheels?

 

[NateWW35]

Nice rig. My wife has a ‘16 Forester that she wants to build on. Did you have to shave the brake calipers to fit the 15 inch wheels?

Thank you! Nope! -- the 15's fit just barely over the 2.5i brakes. If your wife has an XT trim with the turbo, you'll want to get 17's as the easiest, smallest size wheel. You can fit 15's on an XT with a front caliper swap, but I don't know off the top what calipers people use.

 

[NateWW35]

A few more pics from some recent trips

 

[NateWW35]

A couple small unplanned maintenance items:

New lower balljoints in the front (unwanted up and down play in the joint) and outer tie rods (also unwanted up and down play in the joint).

New front brake pads + rotors only 20k later (one of the slider/holder pins that hold the caliper to the bracket got stuck, not allowing the pad to "Float" as well). Resulted in very uneven pad wear, and sudden metal-on-metal contact, ruining one of my rotors. :(

 

[NateWW35]

Small update, trunk is now slightly more organized thanks to a Christmas gift of an ARB Large recovery gear bag (ARB501). This holds my 30ft, 17klb ARB snatch strap (ARB750LB), a hi-lift brand 15ft tow strap (for bridling the two front points), a no-name 30ft tow strap , 4 soft shackles, and 2 spare 3/4" hard shackles.

Also shown is 72hr emergency bag, MaxTrax, shovels, Plano box of stuff (tool bag, compressor, stock scissor jack+wood, jump box, spare fuses/bulbs/hose clamps/electrical stuff etc), under the floor sits my full size spare, jumper cables, some extra water, and a come-along as a VERY last ditch effort.

Divider net is a Raingler brand cargo divider net, to help at least slow down all this junk incase of an accident or rollover. I should probably add a second strap to make an "X" over the box, as it weighs nearly 70lbs by itself.

Thanks for checking it out! I hope everyone has a great day!

 

[Outdoordog]

Very cool setup!

My GF has been looking for a new vehicle and currently looking at chevy since she gets major discounts, she last bought a chevy spark brand new for 7000, sticker was well over 10k.

I have been hinting at subaru, since she likes them anyways, but they are more expensive than the chevy cars she's been looking at.
Safety seems her most priority.

Anyways, really cool subie! It does sound like a goat, which is awesome.

 

[Mjk79]

Is it ok to use those tie down points in the front for Recovery?

 

[NateWW35]

Is it ok to use those tie down points in the front for Recovery?

It was a recommendation per our IW4DTA certified trainer in a Subaru-specific recovery course my group had setup. It's a common practice when no better option is available, it helps spread the forces across two points vs one (like when using the stock screw in tow eye).

 

[NateWW35]

Did some snow and skid plate bashing this weekend, got to utilize the recovery points in the front and rear, and use a lot of gear I haven't had to use in a long time.