[darewren]

Hi there. Just bought my first Subaru, a deep blue pearl 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring, and I just joined this forum. I'm looking forward to picking brains, reading others' adventures, and sharing. In the spirit of sharing, a little about Run Around Sue, I was gonna call her Hannah, as Hannah is spelled the same forwards or backwards, and I was sure this outback was going to be able to get me there (wherever there might be) and then back again, but I digress. The 0% for 63 months was hard to resist, and, uh, well, I went a little crazy by getting the touring trim level (love the java leather) with the bigger engine (needed to schlep me, my friends and our gear up whatever), which already had some factory installed options (i.e., remote start, all weather floor mats, wheel arches, interior LED lighting). I then wanted some off-road equipment the parts department tracked down and installed. Here is the list of upgrades, and I hope the pic loaded.


LP Aventure 2" LIFT KIT
LP Aventure BIG BUMPER GUARD
LP Aventure FRONT PLATE FOR BIG BUMPER GUARD
LP Aventure SKID PLATE secured with Rally Washers
RALLY ARMOR MUD FLAPS RA-MF36-UR-BLK/GRY
Thule Crossbar Set
Thule Heavy-Duty Roof Cargo Basket
Thule Bike Carrier - Hitch Mounted
Method Race Wheels 502 Rally | Titanium
245/65R17 Terra Grappler G2 All-Terrain Light Truck Radial Tires
CURT CLASS 2 TRAILER HITCH
CURT CUSTOM WIRING CONNECTOR #56040
CURT 45785 Receiver Tube Adapter
Primitive Racing Rear Diff Skid Plate (dealer threw this in)
Severe Weather Kit (dealer threw this in)
First Aid Kid (dealer threw this in)
Sun Shade (dealer threw this in)
Ceramic window tinting on all windows including windshield (driver's and passenger's windows tinted to match color of rear windows)


ANd here are some items I'm still considering
LP Aventure FULL ARMOR OPTION to go on the big bumper guard (gotta do it)
CUSCO REAR TOW HOOK (no brainer)
LED LIGHTs and LIGHT BAR (probably a good idea)
LP Aventure CANISTER FILTER BYPASS (I might ford a river, and it's only $40)
WilcoOff Road HITCHGATE™ SOLO Standard Hi-Clearance (Not sure yet. I like my back up camera and sensors. But the full size spare is taking up precious space inside or up top.)
Awning (probably yes)


Let the adventures begin.


Thank you,
Darrin

 

[Sandbag]

Looks good.

 

[subiesailor]

Wow tricked out from the get go. One thing I always liked about my Subarus was that even plain jane boring stock they typically surprised the **** out of people who thought of them as random cheapie cars. My first adventure was during an epic snow storm in Tahoe we Skied till closing, then hung out till 10pm before our group headed back to the condo. 12 late 20 somethings 3 cars. I had the New Yorkers with me in my stock 5spd Legacy GT. Over a foot of snow covered the ski resort parking lot. The 2nd car was a Path finder then a Suburban. Oddly The Legacy GT cut the path out of the lot and 30 min later the condo complex was even deeper snow over the hood! The GT hardly noticed except I had to use the window wipers to move snow off the window that had ridden up over the hood!

Funny enough that trip long ago a couple of those guys own Subarus today they couldn’t believe that car could do that.

 

[traildogck]

Now all you need are some performance bushing for your sway bars to lock down that extra sprung, and un-sprung weight...

:29:

 

[darewren]

Hi there. I just joined, and posted this elsewhere when I shoulda posted it here. Rookie mistake, sorry. Oh well, here it is again.

Just bought my first Subaru, a deep blue pearl 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring, and I just joined this forum. I'm looking forward to picking brains, reading others' adventures, and sharing. In the spirit of sharing, a little about Run Around Sue, I was gonna call her Hannah, as Hannah is spelled the same forwards or backwards, and I was sure this Outback was going to be able to get me there (wherever there might be) and then back again, but I digress. The 0% for 63 months was hard to resist, and, uh, well, I went a little crazy by getting the touring trim level (love the java leather) with the bigger engine (needed to schlep me, my friends and our gear up whatever), which already had some factory installed options (i.e., remote start, all weather floor mats, wheel arches, interior LED lighting). I then wanted some off-road equipment the parts department tracked down and installed. Here is the list of upgrades, and I hope the pic loaded.
LP Aventure 2" LIFT KIT LP Aventure BIG BUMPER GUARD LP Aventure FRONT PLATE FOR BIG BUMPER GUARD LP Aventure SKID PLATE secured with Rally Washers RALLY ARMOR MUD FLAPS RA-MF36-UR-BLK/GRY Thule Crossbar Set Thule Heavy-Duty Roof Cargo Basket Thule Bike Carrier - Hitch Mounted Method Race Wheels 502 Rally | Titanium 245/65R17 Terra Grappler G2 All-Terrain Light Truck Radial Tires CURT CLASS 2 TRAILER HITCH CURT CUSTOM WIRING CONNECTOR #56040 CURT 45785 Receiver Tube Adapter Primitive Racing Rear Diff Skid Plate (dealer threw this in) Severe Weather Kit (dealer threw this in) First Aid Kid (dealer threw this in) Sun Shade (dealer threw this in) Ceramic window tinting on all windows including windshield (driver's and passenger's windows tinted to match color of rear windows)

And here are some items I'm still considering LP Aventure FULL ARMOR OPTION to go on the big bumper guard (gotta do it) CUSCO REAR TOW HOOK (no brainer) LED LIGHTs and LIGHT BAR (probably a good idea) LP Aventure CANISTER FILTER BYPASS (I might ford a river, and it's only $40) WilcoOff Road HITCHGATE™️ SOLO Standard Hi-Clearance (Not sure yet. I like my back up camera and sensors. But the full size spare is taking up precious space inside or up top.) Awning (probably yes)

I’m interested in what others have to say about the Wilco Hitchgate Solo.

Let the adventures begin.

Thank you, Darrin

 

[subiesailor]

I have the hitch gate. I used it on my Land Cruiser when I switched to 34in tires.

Its heavy!! Great gear but heavy. I use our OB like a truck nearly daily. Yesterday I was at my elder dads house, ladder, my rolling 80lb tool box and some other stuff. House projects. I have rentals so that same load is a common one to other locations. Next week my 4x6 trailer gets put into service to replace 28ft of wood fencing.

In June we switch to vacation mode 4 bikes, plus 4x6 trailer in tent trailer mode/camping gear hauling to Tahoe for 6days.

Number one problem is simply load rating tossing a tire frame on the hitch that weighs over 100lbs just to carry a tire is a huge hit to your gear hauling capacity.

I’ve done lots of adventures in the Subaru and my trucks. I will say this the subaru awd greatly reduces shredding a tire vs the dumb 4x4 my heavy truck has which can mangle heavy BFG KO2s easily.
On rugged terrain trips in the Subaru I pack a compressor and a quality plug kit. If I ever do crazy rocky super remote locations Ill pick up a full size spare and toss it in the back on the floor then pack gear on top.

 

[eagleeye]

merged threads.

 

[amagalla]

Looks like you got the class 2 hitch. Any reason you didn't go with the class3?

 

[eagleeye]

Looks like you got the class 2 hitch. Any reason you didn't go with the class3?

towing section is right here,...lots of threads.

Towing - Subaru Outback - Subaru Outback Forums

short answer though.

class two is correct and perfect for outback. plenty of attachments for it, vs. subarus OEM dinky class one.

_____

although some odd ball oubacks are out there with a off road full spare on one. if you want a

Class 3. see the new Ascent at a dealer near you. in any trim over base, it can tow 5000lbs. on its class 3 hitch.

2019 Subaru ASCENT - Subaru Outback - Subaru Outback Forums

 

[Boompa]

Go big or go home! VERY impressive first-ever Subbie.

 

[Sage9984]

Looking good. How do you like the wheel tire combo?

 

[Horsemover]

Love that color. Looks great!

 

[darewren]

Thanks. I was told the lift kit I got from LP Aventure came with performance bushings. No issues as yet. I'll ask when I'm back at the dealers. They handled all of the upgrades for me. Thanks again.

 

[darewren]

I like the tire and wheel combo. I like the way they look, and I like the way they ride. They're smooth off road, quite on road, and don't rub.

 

[darewren]

Well, I've now got all of the items I was considering, and so far so good. I got the Yakima Slimshady awning (https://www.yakima.com/slimshady), and it fits perfectly on the Thule roof rails even with the Thule basket mounted. It took a few set ups to get to where I could get it up and down on my own. It works great, was reasonably priced, and so far I've had no issues with zipper. The lights came in handy diving on the windy mountain roads up to and around Sequoia and Kings Canyon at night. I also use them for crowd control in parking lots. What is it with people walking down the middle of the road. Put on the lights and they scatter like cockroaches. I haven't gone anywhere to use the full underbody armor, or forded any water deep enough to utilize the canister, but it's nice to know I'm safe when I decide to do either. Anyway, the only real issue is with the hitch gate solo. There is the weight issue, and the back-up camera and sensors being obstructed issue, and the issue when the Thule bike rack is attached, but heck I'm glad I had the full size spare when I ran over some construction debris on the 5 freeway down in San Diego. I guess I could go back to just tossing it in the back, or putting it in the basket, but then it's either taking up cargo space, or testing the limits of my overhead strength to get it down from up top. Oh well. So, now I've got her all tricked out, I'll have to post some pics.

 

[rstacky]

fun car

 

[Kz_fan]

Very nice color and mods. Way to go big or go home. That tire on the back looks goofy as all get out, but as long as it serves its purpose who cares I suppose. Enjoy and safe travels!!

 

[scarzy19]

Excellent color - great first Subaru!