After getting back from almost a year working abroad, we decided to take our new 2020 Outback on a 10,000 mile trip around the US in early 2021. We were lucky to be in NZ during the worst of CV19.
I built an insert for the back that had two drawers, one for food and one for cooking supplies (like a stove). It was a trifold design so that our dog could have the back seat while driving. The first fold had little wings that folded out to support it and the second had posts that I would screw in at night (with the front seats adjusted forward for maximum length). I covered most of the surfaces with speaker box fabric. The mattress was a trifold foam mattress that I trimmed a bit to fit nicely.
I am 6'2", my wife is pretty small, and Ellie (our dog) is 60lb, so it was pretty tight in there at night. But manageable.
We used a Thule box on top of the Outback for other things (like the tent we sometimes slept in for more room) and a Yakima Slim Shady awning that we rarely used.
The build came out pretty much exactly how I imagined it would (a rare result).
I took heaps of photos during the build and am happy to share details if anyone is interested.
Not sure what our plans are with it now (maybe sell it), as we are currently building out a WeeRoll trailer for more space and amenities while traveling. Super lightweight for towing behind the Outback. Of course the insert can go places the trailer will not be able to!
- Karl
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