2013 Subaru Forester (SH9 3rd Gen) going the Expedition route

@just_rich_young

@just_rich_young
The new Cherokee looks like a great small expo vehicle.

A problem with the OB is that there are very few off road oriented mods available. My guess is that upgrading the capability of the OB to that of the Cherokee will be difficult; and if doable, quite expensive and complex.

That said, it is good to have more choices.

R

Even Jeep has admitted that lifting a Cherokee will be almost impossible and if it is done, it will be insanely expensive. One of the Jeep engineers estimated the cost of lifting a Cherokee to be several thousand dollars.
 

montañes

Observer
Are there are a big advantage between Forester with X-Moode and Forester without x-mode? (In Spain the Forester diesel is without x-mode, for example)
 

machine1

Explorer
Are there are a big advantage between Forester with X-Moode and Forester without x-mode? (In Spain the Forester diesel is without x-mode, for example)

The XT's have X-mode, but the white 2.5 and black 2.5 do not have X-mode. I've never driven one equipped with it, mine only has VDC (2013). We all went through the same trails and were equally matched.
 

machine1

Explorer
Looks pretty even in the mud. I saw on your Flickr you all did some rocks. Any video of that?

From inside a 2015 XT:


A Trailhawk going down the same trail from the outside:


Videos are slowly trickling in from everyone that attended.
 

machine1

Explorer
Nice pictures! Was the Crosstrek a CVT or manual? Mine is manual and I'd burn up the clutch in terrain like that. How'd the front bumper survive?

I'm not sure you can upgrade an OB to match a trailhawk cherokee off road. The low range and rear locker will be tough to beat. But if you don't venture into terrain that requires that kind of hardware then the suburu might work out well for you. Also, by the time you're done modifying the subaru to try to get it up to speed with the trailhawk you will have lost some of the better handling and fuel efficiency.

Thanks! I'm sorry I'm so late with the reply, I'm all over the place these days.

The XV was an automatic, it was his first time off-roading so he took it really easy everywhere on the trail. I put a link for my event report with all the pictures and videos I was able to collect.
 

machine1

Explorer
Slow on the updates, baby on the way and all.

Finally got a full size spare tire and wheel:

20140811_081832 by machinecrewchief, on Flickr

Those wheels are nice, almost look like the new wheels the Jeep came out with in 2014. Too bad I can't afford a full set. Don't mind the wheel weights, I found out later that I was given the wrong wheel (There were two wheels, one bent/curbed and one that was just curbed, I was supposed to get the curbed one). I have the tire mounted on the good wheel now, only 2 oz/1.5 oz inside/out as opposed to 8 oz/5 oz. Good thing I mentioned to him that the wheel I got was bent, otherwise he wouldn't have figured out that he had given me the wrong wheel.

As of now I'm working on a lift solution, one that doesn't involve strut top spacers. The struts may be going under the knife with some TIG welding involved, we'll see. In the end I'll have 2" of lift.

In other news, the Lithuanians are nuts. 4" lift on an SH Forester:

10506749_768269066567758_871856193256031434_o by machinecrewchief, on Flickr

1523410_768269063234425_7948021274539285883_o by machinecrewchief, on Flickr

They won't tell me the details, only that they are the only ones that can do the work and offer no kit. Don't know why they're so secretive. Here in the states we share all of our information.

They also managed to squeeze 235/65R17 Insa Turbo tires. Too bad they don't sell them here.
 

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