Can you build a reliable off-road Subaru without spending a fortune?
Josh McWorthy, a 10-year Rebelle Rally tech, says yes. He took a $1,500 Forester, welded his own lift kit, sleeved $68 eBay struts, threw on used Outback wheels… and then spent thousands of miles ripping desert rally courses in it with no issue.

In this episode, we talk about:

 * How Josh built a lift from scrap steel at work
 * Why reinforced eBay struts can survive serious offroad abuse
 * DIY trailing arm spacers from Jeep JK control arms
 * Bigger wheel and tire fitment
 * Pirelli Scorpion AT performance in the desert
 * The Rebelle Rally inside scoop and why Subarus are perfect for it

This is a legit budget Subaru that keeps up with trucks and side-by-sides in the dunes at speed without the fancy parts.

Subaru Parts I Actually Recommend:

If you’re looking to lift or upgrade your Subaru the smart way, these brands support the podcast:

• Anderson Design & Fabrication - Lift kits, trailing arm spacers, skid plates, and more. Use code DIRTSUBIES for 5% OFF

• MeLe Design Firm - Lightweight performance battery mounts, batteries. and other cool Subaru parts
Use code DIRTSUBIES for 10% OFF

Support the brands that support the Subaru off-road scene 👊

Cheap Subaru Off-Road Build : Tips From a Rebelle Rally Technician

Dan Benoit is back by popular demand, and we dig into a lot of topics that I've always been curious about. Follow Dan's shop on Instagram @whiskeyrowauto

From keeping Subarus alive past 300k miles to why cheap parts and bad advice cost people engines, this episode covers ALMOST everything related to long-term reliability. We get into head gaskets, turbos, cooling systems, OEM vs aftermarket parts, and even some veteran automotive horror stories.

If you’ve ever wondered why one car lives forever while another dies young, this episode is very informative.

Discounts for the Subaru crowd:
• Anderson Design & Fabrication — 5% off (code DIRTSUBIES)
• MeLe Design Firm — 10% off (code DIRTSUBIES)

Over 25 Years Working On Subarus: What Actually Makes Them Last

Special thanks to our listeners from our awesome sponsors: Use code DIRTSUBIES and checkout for 5% off your order with ADF (awdadventure.com) and 10% off at meledesignfirm.com

Today I sit down with my buddy Raf, and honestly this is one of the most real conversations I’ve had on this show. It was great.

We talk about the day he got laid off, how it happened, how it felt, and what goes through your head when the rug gets pulled out from under you. Raf opens up about dealing with burnout, and trying to find something that actually fits his life instead of drains it.

And because we’re both Subaru nerds, we go from life-stuff straight into how he blew up his center diff, why his Crosstrek was clanking like a shopping cart, and the path that got him deep into the Subaru community in the first place.



Subie Stories With The Guy Who Built The Subaru Community’s First Real Podcast

In this episode I sit down with Benjamin aka @BMC_Adventures and we get into everything from first-cars-turned-trail-rigs, to living and wheeling in Colorado, to why the Subaru community is honestly one of the coolest groups of people you can meet.

Benjamin breaks down his full setup: tires, lift kit, suspension, the whole journey from stock 2010 Outback to a legit trail-ready build. We talk about camping spots, high-altitude mountain passes, transmission temps, and what it’s actually like running a lifted Subaru in real Colorado terrain.

If you’re into Subarus, offroad builds, real-world upgrades, or you just enjoy hearing how people got into this hobby, this is a solid one. Super laid back conversation with a good dude.

Thanks for listening and if you’re in Colorado, check out his Facebook group San Juan Subies and go show him some love.

Offroading Through Colorado In A Subaru Outback

Cody’s the type of person who says “If you hit it, I’ll follow” and then actually sends it into the sketchiest trails. In this episode, we get into his transition from a modded WRX to a Crosstrek and eventually the Outback Wilderness… plus all the off-road craziness that came with it.

From blowing through sidewalls, taking summer tires into a snowstorm, overheating power steering on a cliffed out road, and sending it on Naches like he was driving a Jeep, Cody shares the real, unfiltered stories of taking an Outback Wilderness to places only 4x4's usually go.

If you’re into lifted Subarus, off-road trail stories, overlanding, or you just love hearing how things went horribly wrong (and somehow still worked out), this one’s for you.

He Took a Subaru Where?! Cody’s Most Ridiculous Off-Road Stories and Disasters Ep. 15

In this episode, we talk with Karly (@ursula_the_gx) about her lifted Subaru Outback build and what led her to make the jump to a Lexus GX460. She shares what got her started in the off-road Subaru world, how she found Off-Roading Subarus of Colorado, and what it was like to take on her first real trails with a lifted Outback.

We get into the full story, from installing Primitive Racing skid plates and a custom snorkel setup to overheating CVTs and realizing the limits of a Subaru when things get serious. Karly breaks down what worked, what didn’t, and how she decided to move to a body-on-frame 4x4 with 33-inch tires, Toyo Open Country A/Ts, and a body-mount chop.

Should you buy a 4x4 or lift your Subaru? EP 14 with @ursula_the_gx

Support our sponsors by using code DIRTSUBIES at checkout on meledesignfirm.com and awdadventure.com

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Benoit, co-owner of Whiskey Row Automotive in Prescott Valley, Arizona, and one of the most hardcore Subaru enthusiasts you’ll ever meet.

We talk about his decades-long obsession with Subaru engineering, from rolling a Brat off jumps in Northern California just to see if it would break (it didn’t), to building a full-blown rock crawler out of a 1991 Legacy wagon that’s still street legal and drives way better than it should.

Dan explains why the EJ22 might be the most bulletproof engine Subaru ever made, why old-school engineering is great, and what makes Subarus so endlessly modifiable. We get into everything from Toyota gearbox swaps to custom Bilstein shocks and even the wild story behind Subaru’s 1989 endurance world record that still stands today.

It’s not just car talk though. Dan also opens up about his life off the wrench, overcoming serious injuries, learning to accept help, and how many lessons from the garage apply to everything else.

This one’s packed with stories, technical insight, and perspective from a guy who’s lived the Subaru life for decades.

To see an image gallery and recap of this conversation, visit https://liftedimports.com/biggest-lifted-subaru-legacy

How Dan Built the Wildest Subaru Legacy I've Ever Seen EP13

I this episode, Brandon (@starscream1201) joins me to talk about his one of a kind 2010 Subaru Forester, “Sherman.” From picking it up sight unseen in California with a 4” ADF lift already installed, to installing custom skid plates, Bilstein B6s, and a torque locker, this is a true off-road monster. We get into dealership life as a mechanic, the truth about car warranties, why KO2s aren’t as heavy as people think, and the biggest game changers for building offroad Subarus. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a Forester that looks wild and actually performs well, this episode is for you.

Check out photos of Brandon's Forester on the Lifted Imports website: https://liftedimports.com/modified-subaru-forester-4-inch-lift/

Best Subaru Forester Mods for Off-Roading - Brandon's 4 Inch Lifted Fozzy #12

In this episode, Sam breaks down his Northeast-tested Subaru Forester SJ build. If you want a reliable trail and family-camping Subaru, this is the pinnacle modification that offers comfort and capability. In this episode, we cover body armor, suspension, wheel and tire fitment, lighting, and a great camping system that stays organized. There’s even a door-meets-tree story with a surprisingly easy trail-side fix.

Check out this article [https://liftedimports.com/sams-offroad-2015-forester] for a full build list or go to https://liftedimports.com/sams-offroad-2015-forester

Subaru Camping Rig That Still Hits Real Trails #11

We're switching over to a bi-weekly schedule so that we can devote more time to each episode.

DirtSubies Podcast Announcement

An offroad-focused podcast looking into the world of lifted Subarus. Featuring stories from vehicle owners and insights from the creators of some of our favorite parts in the off-road Subie industry. Join us as we explore trails, talk shop, and celebrate the adventure-driven Subaru community.