Turning the wife's Forester into an adventure wagon

3jarrells

3jarrells

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Joined
Jul 27, 2010
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24
Location
Phoenix AZ
We just moved to the Sonoran desert in the great state of Arizona. I can't help but notice that most of you guys are in Australia. I also noticed that the scenery is quite similar to around here. Anyway, we are selling our pop up camper ang going back to a ground tent. In an effort to make things a little simpler and spontaneous. We have been keeping a Nissan double cab 4x2 around to pull the camper. 17mpg is getting old, we are spending more in fuel than on fun! Unfortunately in America we dont get anything diesel. Unless you want a huge truck or an expensive german sedan. I seriously doubt we will get the boxer diesel.

So it looks like the wifes '02 Forester is about to get pimped, dirty style. Now we have camped and will continue to camp with it. But out here in Arizona there are alot of dirt and gravel roads to explore. We have really enjoyed seeing indian ruins and petroglyphs. I just have a few questions about increasing the cars capabilities.

Now these 1" blocks from Subtle. They will not increase ground clearance but will allow for larger tires which will increase clearance. I assume they will slightly improve my approach and departure angles. Any recomendations on tire sizes with and without the 1" lift. Disconnecting the rear sway bar is pretty straight forward and I understand the benifits. How big of a mpg or performance hit do you take with the bigger tires?

Is it possible to import the parts to be able to have a low range T-case. By the way ours is a manual. From what I understand the automatic is better for off roading.

We have never had an issue over heating, and I hope to not. Besides routing maintenace is there a way to increase water capacity. Or ad fans for extra cooling.

Sorry, I just realized thats alot of questions for one post. Thanks for any help or suggestions. I have greatly enjoyed wasting hours on this site.
 
Welcome!

The lift blocks will lift the vehicle and provide more ground clearance. However, because they sit on top of the strut they do not increase the distance between the spring perch and the wheel hub, so in themselves do not allow larger tyres.

With a manual you are less likely to have overheating problems than an auto (because hot auto trans fluid is piped to the bottom of the radiator to cool and the heat exchanged can increase the temp of the radiator coolant). So the manual has the entire radiator to cool the engine rather than sharing it with the auto transmission.

I think you can get the parts for a low range - but I'm not sure where.
 
Kevin thanks for the info. I suppose I was equating the spacers to a body lift on a conventional frame and body vehicle. Good to know I can actually gain ground clearance for a couple hundred bucks. Extra ground clearance with the stock size tires seams to be a win-win. Shouldnt have much of an effect on mpg!
 
I am blocked (behind a company firewall) right now so I can not get to any pictures but I have a 2009 Forrie X with Subtle blocks, 16" wheels, Geolandar AT-S's, Primtive Racing skidplates (if you do not have plates, buy them NOW!) and a Yakima Load Warrior basket.

If you can get there search Facebook for Vince Anderson (I am NOT the famous one) and you will find recent photo's of my car.

Unclviny
 
Dude, there is a shload of vince andersons. Are you a preacher? Anyway thanks for the response. Good to know I am not the only crazy American. There needs to be a support group. What no V8? You cant go there without a set of 44s!

Post up when you get a chance I would like to see your ride.
 
Is yours a 2 or 2.5 litre? I doubt you'll be able to do much with the existing gearbox- best off with the whole box. I seem to re-call they dual range box did not make it so far east? If so, you may have toimport one and that would not be cheap, and then you'f have to ensure it is compatable with the rear diff. The cooling system should be able to handle the heat if it is in good condition. I've had mine running in temps in the mid 40's and no worries. The thermo fans are pretty efficient and do most good at low speeds. You might want to look at a sump guard as well. I agree with Kevin re autos, but remember also autos add to you fuel consumption. Oh, and forget the tent. Get a swag (or 2) !

3jarrells said:
We just moved to the Sonoran desert in the great state of Arizona. I can't help but notice that most of you guys are in Australia. I also noticed that the scenery is quite similar to around here. Anyway, we are selling our pop up camper ang going back to a ground tent. In an effort to make things a little simpler and spontaneous. We have been keeping a Nissan double cab 4x2 around to pull the camper. 17mpg is getting old, we are spending more in fuel than on fun! Unfortunately in America we dont get anything diesel. Unless you want a huge truck or an expensive german sedan. I seriously doubt we will get the boxer diesel.

So it looks like the wifes '02 Forester is about to get pimped, dirty style. Now we have camped and will continue to camp with it. But out here in Arizona there are alot of dirt and gravel roads to explore. We have really enjoyed seeing indian ruins and petroglyphs. I just have a few questions about increasing the cars capabilities.

Now these 1" blocks from Subtle. They will not increase ground clearance but will allow for larger tires which will increase clearance. I assume they will slightly improve my approach and departure angles. Any recomendations on tire sizes with and without the 1" lift. Disconnecting the rear sway bar is pretty straight forward and I understand the benifits. How big of a mpg or performance hit do you take with the bigger tires?

Is it possible to import the parts to be able to have a low range T-case. By the way ours is a manual. From what I understand the automatic is better for off roading.

We have never had an issue over heating, and I hope to not. Besides routing maintenace is there a way to increase water capacity. Or ad fans for extra cooling.

Sorry, I just realized thats alot of questions for one post. Thanks for any help or suggestions. I have greatly enjoyed wasting hours on this site.
Click to expand...
 
3jarrells said:
Dude, there is a shload of vince andersons. Are you a preacher? Anyway thanks for the response. Good to know I am not the only crazy American. There needs to be a support group. What no V8? You cant go there without a set of 44s!

Post up when you get a chance I would like to see your ride.
Click to expand...

I will post a link to my FB when I get to the Motel this morning (I work nights).

Us "crazy folk" have to stick together, When I pull up to a Drilling rig in my Subie with the Ramones blasting the Rednecks look at me like I'm from Mars (I love it!).

My car normally is covered with Mud, when folks tell me I need to wash it I respond "why?, it rains".

Unclviny
 
3jarrells said:
Is it possible to import the parts to be able to have a low range T-case. By the way ours is a manual. From what I understand the automatic is better for off roading.
Click to expand...

Allied Armament was making an EA to EJ tranny adapter that would allow you to put an old EA series dual-range tranny into your Forester. I'm fairly certain Allied has discontinued making Subaru parts though. You might do some searching around, someone else may have picked up the ball and is making these.:)
 
Front struts from a 2003 -2008 Forester bolt in and give you more tire clearance, rear struts from a 97-99 Outback will bolt in and give more tire clearance than the 03-08 Forester rears. Add some springs and lift blocks for more ground clearance a good set of tires and some under body armour and you will be ready to fight the desert! I'm pretty sure I have a thread on here of the wifes 98 S' build up, I'll see if I can find it.

https://www.offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=1564
 
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Hondaslayer, So the 2nd gen. Forester springs are shorter and offer more tire clearance at the bottom. But, overal ride height is the same they just allow for more tire clearance, right. For the rear you are saying I would be better off with the 97-98 outback springs. Off the top of your head do you know how much larger a tire will fit without rubbing? Or for that matter how much larger a tire I can fit without changing anything.

Using repurposed factory Subaru parts seems like a safer way to go.
 
Found a cool tire calculator website. Great way of figuring out overal diameter. https://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp Here is what I have deduced!:monkeydance:

215/60/16 stock
215/65/16 adds .85'
205/70/16 adds 1.14'
215/70/16 adds 1.7"

I have found on this site in various places by various people that these fit on a stock 1st gen Forester. I have my doubts about the big uns.

If you took the middle size plus the 1" blocks from subtle I would have over 2" added ground clearnace. I'd be pretty stoked with that.
 
We are running 215/75-15 General Grabber AT2, roughly 28in tires.

215/75-15 should be roughly equal to 215/70-16.

The only way to get more tire under there would be either cut and modify the struts, or run a very aggressive offset wheels, neither of which would be very good for longevity.

The second gen springs are similar in length, the strut length is a bit longer, more so in the front, only about 1/2 in the rear. The Outback struts are about 3/4in longer.
 
Your using the 215/75/15 on your forester? Which does not have stock suspension? Thanks again for all your help
 
3jarrells said:
Your using the 215/75/15 on your forester? Which does not have stock suspension? Thanks again for all your help
Click to expand...


Correct.

215/75-15 On 03-08 Forester struts (putting the Outback struts on sometime) with Ironman 2in lift springs and custom made 1/2in front 3/4in rear spacers (extra 1/4in to combat butt sag)
 
Coil overs offer more clearance if you're keen
 
But I think it's hard to find "tall" coilovers; they're all stock height or lower. If I was going coilovers I'd want something that can go taller (& I couldn't find any when I was moding my car)
 
Correct, the closest off the shelf solution would be something like a DMS or other rally based coilover system which would put you at stock height (at most) at a cost of about $1000 per corner.

A thought I had before was to order a set of those cheap ebay coilovers and just buy longer springs. Install it, cut the lower perches and voila! Longer coilovers.
 
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