CurtStyler
Observer
So I’ve had my car for just under 4 months, I’m about to cross 10,000 miles and I’m getting ready for some longer trips with more camping. I figured this is a good time to start my build log.
I bought this car to build into an expedition style offroader. That said, since this is my first real step into this style of travel, if for some reason I didn’t enjoy it I wanted something that could still be an economical daily driver for me.
I basically wanted something that could split the line between RV and camp car but got good MPG. I don’t plan on taking this into true offroad territory. I figured that most of the places I want to go will have some sort of road, be it pavement, dirt, dust or 2 track so offroad ability was not my primary concern. Instead I wanted something comfortable for putting on many, MANY miles that would be reliable and would haul all my camp and photography gear along with food and water and maybe a friend or 2.
All that and I wanted to get as close to 25 MPG as I could, higher would be better. The goal was to bring enough stuff that I could camp instead of using hotels on multiday trips, ultimately saving money.
I’m an engineer so I looked at probably 45 different vehicles. I calculated insurance costs, payments, estimated fuel cost, modification cost and cargo capacity (both behind seats and with seats down). In the end the only cars that hit my fuel requirements were Subaru’s, both the Forester and Outback. I test drove both but the Forester felt too small and top heavy whereas I the Outback felt just right. I had to push my budget and get a deal but it worked out. I ordered a 2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium PZEV in Pearl White. The only option I got was the seat back covers so I could fold them down and have a hard surface for gear.
Here she is the day I picked her up.
2016 Subaru Outback Adventures
by Curt Styler, on Flickr
And the next day after 300 miles when I got my new tires, 245/65R17 Cooper AT3’s.
New tires
by Curt Styler, on Flickr
I needed a tire that would handle dirt roads and inclement weather while eating up all the highway miles I could throw at them. These fit the bill, they aren’t the most rugged offroad tire but for my use they are perfect. I picked the car up in Chicago and had the tires put on up there, so the drive back to Florida was a good chance to see just how much room I had in the trunk. I’m glad everything fit!
Tons of Trunk Space
by Curt Styler, on Flickr
Then came a few months of just driving around central Florida. Many trips to Disney world, a trip to go camping and a trip to Daytona Beach (both on cloudy, cold and rainy days).
Daytona Beach
by Curt Styler, on Flickr
I made a Vlog when I went camping. I'm just learning about video editing as I would love to record my travels as much as possible.
That was my first camping trip in years but I knew I needed a new tent. I could barely fit my self and my shoes much less any gear. I also only got a few hours sleep because my back has problems. My first plan was to build a sleeping platform in the car, but as I began to acquire gear it became apparent there would not be enough room for a sleeping area and all my gear without removing the rear seats. I had been looking at a Roof Top Tent for a while but couldn’t justify the cost. Then I saw that 4 Wheel Parts was having a one day sale on the Smittybilt Overlander tent. It was pure luck that I came across the deal and a full impulse buy. It cost me about $660 with free pickup from my local 4 Wheel Parts, less than half the price of the Kukenam Sky from Tepui while being basically the same tent just with cheaper zippers and a little less quality control. I added a 3 year warranty for $70 and was done.
Smittybilt Overlander Tent
by Curt Styler, on Flickr
Smittybilt Overlander Tent Installed
by Curt Styler, on Flickr
I had my dad help install it on the stock roof rails. I’ve had it up there for about a month now and everything is going peachy. I took a few MPG hit. I get about 23 MPG on the highway now, but I carry my own sleeping quarters. I say that’s a fair trade.
-More to Come Soon! Thanks for reading!
I bought this car to build into an expedition style offroader. That said, since this is my first real step into this style of travel, if for some reason I didn’t enjoy it I wanted something that could still be an economical daily driver for me.
I basically wanted something that could split the line between RV and camp car but got good MPG. I don’t plan on taking this into true offroad territory. I figured that most of the places I want to go will have some sort of road, be it pavement, dirt, dust or 2 track so offroad ability was not my primary concern. Instead I wanted something comfortable for putting on many, MANY miles that would be reliable and would haul all my camp and photography gear along with food and water and maybe a friend or 2.
All that and I wanted to get as close to 25 MPG as I could, higher would be better. The goal was to bring enough stuff that I could camp instead of using hotels on multiday trips, ultimately saving money.
I’m an engineer so I looked at probably 45 different vehicles. I calculated insurance costs, payments, estimated fuel cost, modification cost and cargo capacity (both behind seats and with seats down). In the end the only cars that hit my fuel requirements were Subaru’s, both the Forester and Outback. I test drove both but the Forester felt too small and top heavy whereas I the Outback felt just right. I had to push my budget and get a deal but it worked out. I ordered a 2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium PZEV in Pearl White. The only option I got was the seat back covers so I could fold them down and have a hard surface for gear.
Here she is the day I picked her up.
2016 Subaru Outback Adventuresby Curt Styler, on Flickr
And the next day after 300 miles when I got my new tires, 245/65R17 Cooper AT3’s.
New tiresby Curt Styler, on Flickr
I needed a tire that would handle dirt roads and inclement weather while eating up all the highway miles I could throw at them. These fit the bill, they aren’t the most rugged offroad tire but for my use they are perfect. I picked the car up in Chicago and had the tires put on up there, so the drive back to Florida was a good chance to see just how much room I had in the trunk. I’m glad everything fit!
Tons of Trunk Spaceby Curt Styler, on Flickr
Then came a few months of just driving around central Florida. Many trips to Disney world, a trip to go camping and a trip to Daytona Beach (both on cloudy, cold and rainy days).
Daytona Beachby Curt Styler, on Flickr
I made a Vlog when I went camping. I'm just learning about video editing as I would love to record my travels as much as possible.
That was my first camping trip in years but I knew I needed a new tent. I could barely fit my self and my shoes much less any gear. I also only got a few hours sleep because my back has problems. My first plan was to build a sleeping platform in the car, but as I began to acquire gear it became apparent there would not be enough room for a sleeping area and all my gear without removing the rear seats. I had been looking at a Roof Top Tent for a while but couldn’t justify the cost. Then I saw that 4 Wheel Parts was having a one day sale on the Smittybilt Overlander tent. It was pure luck that I came across the deal and a full impulse buy. It cost me about $660 with free pickup from my local 4 Wheel Parts, less than half the price of the Kukenam Sky from Tepui while being basically the same tent just with cheaper zippers and a little less quality control. I added a 3 year warranty for $70 and was done.
Smittybilt Overlander Tentby Curt Styler, on Flickr
Smittybilt Overlander Tent Installedby Curt Styler, on Flickr
I had my dad help install it on the stock roof rails. I’ve had it up there for about a month now and everything is going peachy. I took a few MPG hit. I get about 23 MPG on the highway now, but I carry my own sleeping quarters. I say that’s a fair trade.
-More to Come Soon! Thanks for reading!
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