Subaru Outback After 8500 adventurous miles

[haven]

Indefinitely Wild's Wes Siler reflects on life with his Subaru Outback: Why he chose it, how he modified it, and where he drove it.

http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com...u-outback-into-a-real-adventuremob-1716068985

Wes reflects on his vehicle choice this way: "The Subaru obviously lacks extreme angles, locking diffs and a low-range transfer case and I have no illusions that it's a recreational off-roader. But, that's not how I use it. As a vehicle that's more about facilitating adventures, it's gotten everywhere I've asked it to go, without issue."

Because the Outback is not a rock-hopping machine, it has fewer compromises as family hauler and daily commuter. It's a matter of priorities, particularly when you own a single vehicle.

 

[kmroxo]

I read this just yesterday. A bit like Wagonofdoom thread on here. I like the idea a lot. For many things the 8+ inches of clearance on the Outback and Crosstrek will get me to where I want to go.

 

[freshlikesushi]

To be fair. the CVT when in xmode drops into a low range, and we basically have lockers but electronic.


stay tuned. Im fixing the approach angle issues with a steel winch bumper nad going to a 4.5 inch lift also

 

[cdthiker]

should be cool to see that lift. Wonder what it would do to the drive line ?


I wish that x mode had been around on my 2010 Outback sport. I might have kept it. That thing was a great car and went a lot of places it never should have gone.
Mind you it was a 5 speed wso with some abusive clutch use I was able to get creative as needed.

 

[kayadog]

Does anyone know if the 235/65r17 tires he is running will fit on a 2015 Outback with stock 17" wheels?

 

[Dake21]

When you own a single vehicle and only can afford that it makes plenty of sense. My friends who had wranglers as DD ended up either selling them or treading lightly on the same fire roads I do with my grand vitara.
A dd making 6 MPG isn't fun or practical.

 

[freshlikesushi]

should be cool to see that lift. Wonder what it would do to the drive line ?


I wish that x mode had been around on my 2010 Outback sport. I might have kept it. That thing was a great car and went a lot of places it never should have gone.
Mind you it was a 5 speed wso with some abusive clutch use I was able to get creative as needed.

subframes are lowered enough to not make an issue of any angles. keeps CV joints where they should be

Does anyone know if the 235/65r17 tires he is running will fit on a 2015 Outback with stock 17" wheels?

I have a 245/65-17 on mine with NO RUBBING on stock wheels

 

[kayadog]

You have one of the nicest Outbacks out there. Don't you have a lift and wheel spacers though? I'm interested in what I could run on a stock 2015 Premium. I'm shopping new WK2's now and the main thing keeping me away from Outbacks is the lack of decent all terrain tires that will fit. Some good options in 235/60r17 and 235/65r17. 235/65r17 would give it a ton of ground clearance.

 

[freshlikesushi]

I ran them 100% stock with no lift and spacers
you can see here:
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

 

[kayadog]

I just finished reading your great build thread. Any negatives with the 245/65r17 other than probably some MPG's? Do they fit in the stock spare tire location?

 

[CA-RJ]

Reading stuff like this is making it easier for me to decide to sell my Land Cruiser and buy a Subaru.

 

[freshlikesushi]

I just finished reading your great build thread. Any negatives with the 245/65r17 other than probably some MPG's? Do they fit in the stock spare tire location?

no normal tire will fit there. even the stock size. Its a space saver spare back there to begin with

no other issues. road noise is negligible as well

 

[kayadog]

Thanks!

 

[calicamper]

Reading stuff like this is making it easier for me to decide to sell my Land Cruiser and buy a Subaru.

I had both side by side for several years cherry 93 LC and our 2010 OB which more or less is the same OB today except Subaru has added content to it like Xmode and tweaked the CVT some to make traditional AT types happier about the CVT feel etc. We never EVER took the LC on road trips or to the snow we always took the Subaru given it was just light years superior for that use. Not to mention road trips we typically see 28-32mpg averages pending speeds etc. We also tow our little LifeTime tent trailer with the OB when its just the parents and two kids which case we typically see 22mpg towing with plenty ability to go over legal speed limits etc. 1800lbs is about the max end of the trailer weight for long trips given you start to see spikes in running temps at that weight ideal trailering with the subaru is lower profile sleek trailer in the 1200-1500lbs range and the point where you start to wish you had a larger tow machine is 1800lbs and up for long trips. This seems to be the norm for both 2.5L towing folks and 3.6L owners with lots of towing experience also.

I really liked our LC but the Subaru was superior in everything but rock crawling. We sold the LC and replaced it with the 8 passenger Sequoia for the added minivan space etc. Even today we rarely ever take the Sequoia on trips unless we need 5+seats.