Transcript
Speaker: If you have a lightly modified or completely stocked Subaru and you want to take it off -road but you're not sure what it can handle,
Speaker: you'll absolutely love this episode. Now, I really enjoyed doing this episode with my buddy Chris, and I was really excited to get him on because currently he drives a very lightly modified Subaru Outback. And at this point, it's not even lifted and he is still taking it out all throughout Washington and all over the Northwest and seen a lot of really cool stuff and done a lot of cool activities in it. And then just a quick note, if you're not already listening to the Subian U podcast, which is run by my buddy Raph, you need to go check that out. Tons of good episodes over there. And then the wave podcast is also another good Subaru themed podcast that you can check out. So let's go ahead and get into this interview with my buddy, Chris.
Speaker: Can you... Tell everybody. First up. what kind of car you got and then where they can find you online. Yeah, so I drive a 2018 Outback. Uh -oh.
Speaker: Got little mods on it. um My handles on TikTok and Instagram are just... Chris, K -R -I -S underscore P -N -W. Is this your second Subaru?
Speaker: Second Subaru, yep. Okay. Okay. So I want to talk a little bit about ah the first Subaru. like what it was and then what happened to it. And then I want to talk about your current.
Speaker: Set up. yeah absolutely um first subaru uh bought when i was down in florida It's a 2017 certified pre -owned Forester. Drove that from Tampa to Washington. with all my stuff in it when I moved up here back in 21. I had a lift kit put on it. little like think two inch lift kit and then some king springs right after went to gambler og gambler Back in.
Speaker: Uh, 24. think it was. like a week after that. I... Unfortunately got an accident. totaled it. And then... um I was like, love Subaru, love the community, everyone, love the car. I wanted another one. uh didn't I think I was going to get an outback.
Speaker: but um Peninsula Subaru. Right here in Gors. hooked me up. I didn't have my check yet from my insurance. but they still were able to get me into a car.
Speaker: without having to actually put that down payment down so they definitely awesome great people there um But yeah, no, 2018 only had 33 ,000 miles on it. Never seen, it's like a purple blue color. Never seen ah another one like it.
Speaker: Call it Sandy. Got purple on the outside. Cream on the inside, a little peanut butter and jelly. Oh, that's what she said. Yeah. I'm just kidding. I'm just playing. You said you had some... Awesome.
Speaker: different mods on the forester what was kind of like the process of you deciding like that you even wanted to modify the Forester in the first place. um One of the first things I did was... um I've... really big in the car scene down in Florida. I had a lowered.
Speaker: Focus hatchback. It was really big into a website called I Love Driving Slow. I'll staff on there doing photography and stuff. hosted huge car shows in Tampa. I love so the Subi Rumble.
Speaker: So one of the first things I did was I got a nameless axle -back exhaust, a five -inch exhaust. for the Forester. and To me, it sounded great. And then from there, I decided instead of going lowered.
Speaker: uh having a lowered focus i wanted to go up So I added some ditch lights. guide. uh Before I even knew who Patrick was, I got... uh digital like brackets from ADF.
Speaker: had those installed. Got some Cali raised. Lights. are you currently in the market for a lift kit for your subaru or have you put a crappy amazon or ebay lift kit on it and realized maybe you shouldn't have done that well if you're in the market for that or skid plates ditch light brackets
Speaker: molly panels any kind of other off -road subaru stuff make sure that you check out today's sponsor anderson design and fabrication they are offering you guys a five percent off deal if you use code dirt subis at checkout all you got to do is go to their website awdadventure .com use that code dirt subis when you check out and you will get five percent off you guys know that i've been running their products for over 10 years at this point and have just absolutely beat the crap out of them I've got their lift kit on my Forester currently, and I will probably never use another lift kit brand ever. Their stuff is just solid. So it means a lot to me, the fact that Patrick <unk> was willing to do me a favor. and sponsor the podcast go over there get whatever you need use that code and make sure in the notes section you tell him thank you because he doesn't need to discount any of his products he's literally killing it but again it's just a favor that he's doing for us and I really appreciate Patrick yeah I think I had a primitive lift on it
Speaker: I had King Springs. I had King Springs installed on it. And then I want to say I had. Click it. The one inch. or two inch like leveling kit or lift kit from primitive i believe it was and Okay. Yeah, I got.
Speaker: Like I said, it got totaled. like a A week after. OG Gambler. And ready. Yeah, so. r .i .p Dude, that sucks. yeah Oh, man. I took the exhaust off it. I took all the ditch lights, the front lights. Ended up being able to sell the exhaust on Marketplace. Got some money back for it. um Okay, so the current Outback. Is it lifted?
Speaker: um So, not. Totally lifted. i do have I've been testing out ADF's rear. Over like overload Springs or his rear heavy Springs for about nine and ten months now So I think those ads.
Speaker: I think it said like an inch and a quarter kind of lift to it On the rear. and i can load it with a ton of stuff i think they're the 280 pound springs that i'm running love them No SAG or anything.
Speaker: And then I have... BF Goodrich Trail Terrains, which is a bit little bit bigger size than stock. So I'm hoping to... get a little bit of more of a lift kit on there.
Speaker: And so I need some skids. Definitely got to get skids. absolutely when it's it's hard to like when you went from a car that was lifted and ready to go and then you have some crazy fiasco happens. It's like.
Speaker: Crap now I gotta start over and I just got totally screwed in this situation I mean, it's not a financially ideal situation to have your car totaled, even if you're not at fault. it's like fudge Yeah, I know. It sucked.
Speaker: Let me ask you about the tires. so I don't know that I've actually talked to anybody yet that's got that tire on their car. What ties did you end up going with? So I i got them on Marketplace.
Speaker: for Uh, head dope. the wheels and tires. already on them for like 700 bucks They are the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain TAs. and 235, 65, 17s. okay yeah okay yeah yeah i remember you sending me marketplace listings now that's what's up yeah and i was like hey well this size fit on mine they're like the one i know i was like hey well this bolt are these wheels too big am i gonna have to cut yeah yeah so
Speaker: um With that size, did you end up having to do any modification or did everything just average just straight on? Yeah, perfect straight on. I think it's the same size Wild Peaks I had on the Forester.
Speaker: Okay. yeah the guy i got him from he had bought an outback and the previous owner had just put him on and he didn't like how aggressive they were, so he went to something a little bit down.
Speaker: I mean when I got them they still smelled like That brand new showroom. tire smell. and Yeah, the best smell in the world. Yeah, I dig that. um Anytime I get new tires, it's like.
Speaker: my favorite experience oh yeah that's that smell and new asphalt i don't know Gets me. Oh, you like the asphalt? Oh, yeah. I don't know why. It's a good smell. You know, you obviously have a decent amount of experience.
Speaker: from modifying the Forester. Uh, you know, obviously the getting the outback is kind of a new development but Throughout all your time of. modding these cars for off -road.
Speaker: Are there any like. rookie mistakes that you feel like you made because i made a ton dude i spent so much money on stupid stuff that Either... wasn't good or that just didn't work for the car. Did you run into anything like that?
Speaker: Not not yet. um The only... thing is I. which It's not really a... more of an annoyance. When I bought the tires, they had the TPMS in them. The guy's like, oh yeah, yeah, they'll work. They came off an Outback. As soon as I turn on the car, it...
Speaker: they don't register And then I take it to the dealership and see if they can link on. They're like, Oh no. Quote me like $980 to replace the TPMS sensors. I'm like. what I'll live with it.
Speaker: I got a... No, you... You can get TPMSs for way cheaper. i That's crazy. so I was like, i gotta ah I got a pressure gauge on my car. I'm good. Dude, same. I i stay i stay aired up, fool. Yeah.
Speaker: Okay, so speaking of... ah Keeping stuff in the car. When you're going off -road with the subarus whether it was your forester or your outback what are some of the key items that you Take like. even if it's in regards to like recovery stuff and then tools, anything like that? So it's definitely, um,
Speaker: When I first started with the Forester, got to the Olympics and Not really have anything. i take a nine with me, my nine with me and stuff. But, um, am i yeah My camera. I was out there solo. But no cell service.
Speaker: Got a flat. I was driving in between. downed trees and sliced right through the sidewall and these were all season tires that like I drove from Florida up on. some Not really up in the mountains kind of thing. I changed my tire. and Snap one lug nut.
Speaker: on it, get it off and then... I have a custom fly rod in there. It's putting the seat down. snapped my custom fly rod in like two spots so Learn from that. um But now when I go up, I.
Speaker: Have recovery gear I have uh Also got. Sorry. Got. caught in the snow a few times stuck First time I had to use the floor mats to get me out. I was out there Lake Cushman. It happened. So then I bought some recovery boards from one of the members in the Subaru group, some Ironman ones. They've saved me a few times. So those always stay in the car.
Speaker: Now I have a... ah crate Two crates. Some's got some camping stuff in it, like stoves. and snacks and stuff. but I, um... Take a chainsaw with me. I have a little gas powered Husqvarna.
Speaker: um Dude. Do you know what model he is? It's a 120. It's a little guy. Okay. But I don't have a chainsaw yet. I got it. low Because we had a. certain times out of the year as employees, instead of our 10%, we get 20 % off.
Speaker: So I was like, you know, what I'm going to buy my chainsaw now. So, yeah. Got the little ones. Yeah, let's go. i've cleared uh few trees out of the way during the winter and stuff when those storms come through. and They're across the road, so it's got me a few times out of the way.
Speaker: Um, That, and then I keep... a some toe straps and plug kits and um i think you had them before but i bought them i got them from christmas the sidewall patches.
Speaker: Yes dude. i remember you get like sidewall slugs yeah yeah they just go right on the side and you gotta stick them on and stuff and Yeah, I think we were talking about that at last expo.
Speaker: um okay yeah you're saying something about them or you have some or something So yeah, no. Yeah, dude. That's what's up. I've had some pretty bad sidewall experiences. Oh, yeah. No, they suck, especially when you're up there and then you go. You're by yourself, no cell service.
Speaker: So, I mean, for people who don't know, you live up in like northwest Washington, correct? Yeah, I'm in the Port Orchard area. If you're familiar with High Steel Bridge, which is a very popular place, it's about maybe an hour and 20 minutes from High Steel Bridge.
Speaker: Okay. about. an hour South. West of Seattle. so when you're going off -road like it even you know relatively near where you're at.
Speaker: What kind of stuff are you encountering? So it's mostly, mostly. 95%. I'd say 95 % of it's logging roads. Just pretty smooth flat logging roads, gravel, some potholes depending on where you're going. And then sometimes if you go up higher.
Speaker: Definitely getting some washouts. Um, There's a place up there called goober pond um Oh, okay. Yeah, no, it's pretty cool. It's just a little round pond in the middle. up in the mountains and there's a pretty nice washout up there it's pretty sketchy uh you're just kind of um on top of the washout and it's straight look down like 500 feet so oh dude i'd I'd skip out on that, bro. Oh, no, you'll be all right.
Speaker: ah Yeah, this stuff gives you the willies, dude, sliding down hills and stuff. Oh, yeah. You know. with We don't have four low, so it's like when we get stuck. or you roll down something and if you land on your wheels.
Speaker: How the heck are you going to get out, dude? Does your Subaru's engine bay look like crap? Mine definitely does or did. I recently, in the last couple of years, purchased a full set of engine bay caps for my daily driver. And then I purchased some other ones for my Forester from Melee Design Firm. they have full sets or you can buy just the oil cap if you want to just dress that up but they're billet aluminum they're small batch so again not every broccoli head with a wrx is going to have these and they look pretty thick i'm using the wrinkle red powder coat but they have them in all sorts of other colors that you can choose from and if you use code dirt subis at checkout you'll get 10 off pretty much anything in the store And that would really help us out to continue making these episodes for you. And it would help out a small business. Melee Design Firm is the epitome of a small business. Mitch over there is absolutely grinding and crushing it. And I can't say thank you enough for his willingness to sponsor what we're doing over here. So go check that out. And let's get back into this freaking heater of an episode. um It's probably... safe to say that the climate there is
Speaker: pretty wet most times of the year. Actually... Um... No, I would say I mean Winter, spring, when it's raining, it's it's wet. Kind of muddy summer.
Speaker: completely dry. Um, There's maybe one little section. that's kind of that stays kind of more Wow. A little wet year -round. but other than that no it's super dusty not as bad as like the bdr with the moon dust but um Definitely get some.
Speaker: Pretty dusty. um Just because it's a pretty popular so area up there, especially with like High Steel Bridge. A lot of people go up there. as Some of the road has like the washboard. on it too from people uh Driving fast on it. What is maybe like the... um,
Speaker: Well, I guess like, have you taken either of your Subarus on anything? That's... kind of hardcore or sort of like, I don't know whether it's like mud pits or really rocky areas. Have you done anything like that in either of the cars?
Speaker: I did. i um The Forester. I did section. Did section 5 and 6 of the BDR. And for me, that was.
Speaker: Probably one of the most. intense stuff I've ever done. And I mean, I did it with. possibly i think the king springs maybe maybe not even king springs but just wild peaks and Just did it carefully and spotted to where not to.
Speaker: run into rocks and stuff cause there's a couple little washouts here and there on there section. Man, you're going to have to remind me, what what areas does 5 and 6 go through? Is it Ellensburg to Canada or Kashmir to Canada?
Speaker: Oh, okay. Probably cashmere, right? Cashmere to Canada, I think. Oh, that's crazy. Yeah. So no, it was fun. It was a good time. Okay, so...
Speaker: You've got to like lay out this whole experience for us. can so i mean I know some people already know this. But can you explain like what the BDR is? and And they kind of explain like. that hole.
Speaker: Trip and what?
Speaker: you know, what all you got into. hey I want to give a quick shout out to John over at Accolade Auto real quick. They are a Subaru specialist shop in Hillsborough, Oregon. They're about four hours away from me. And despite that, I still take our Subarus to them any chance that we get. If there's any kind of a major service like an engine job that needs to be done or transmission service, anything on a family member's car that I don't feel comfortable working on, we take it out to them. It's a super long drive for us, but it's absolutely worth it. And so I just wanted to recommend them and give them huge props. because John's always taken such good care of me and my family. So if you're looking for a Subaru specialist that is not going to have dealership prices, that actually knows how to diagnose issues with our vehicles, Accolade Auto is definitely the place to go. They can also install lift kits. So if you need a shop to install a lift kit for you and you're in the area, whether you're in Southwest Washington, Northwest Oregon, or anywhere within driving distance, they can install lift kits for you. And I always feel like they've treated me super, super fairly. So just again, huge shout out to John over there. he's taking such good care of me and my family and i would consider him a friend at this point they didn't give me a single dollar to put this in here i just wanted to connect you guys with a good shop It's the... Washington backcountry discovery route.
Speaker: ah there's a couple states i know that have them oregon has one montana i think just opened one I believe Colorado might have one. But pretty much it's... um Off -road. trails that start at one end of the state and go all the way up to the top and it's It's pretty awesome. I've only done, I did section. Three and four.
Speaker: And I wrote with Melissa. and Yeah, that was the one you were on yeah where we got in trouble for on the radios. Wait, we got in trouble? Oh, because we were talking about... and all that kind of stuff. and you know what pisses me off though on that trip i was about ready to throw my radio out the window because i don't remember who it was but they kept getting on the radio like okay guys look out there's a rock on the right oh yeah look out for that pothole on the left yeah
Speaker: What? That's what I have eyes for. I don't need you to be on the radio every three seconds explaining what's coming up. yeah Absolutely. Yeah. Dude. And I think that's where we first actually met, right? Yep. Yeah. yeah Yeah, woke your ass up in the middle of the night for the Northern Lights.
Speaker: yeah that's right i was was it the northern lights or was it like the northern lights That was in the campsite where we thought we had a dead body the grave Yet. Yeah, so that was right up outside of Leavenworth, right? Yeah, absolutely. Because we had the fires and stuff, I think. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah So let me think about this. I remember we all met up in Ellensburg. for that for that trip yep right as i'm pulling into ellensburg my phone goes guess it's time for an update and i was like wait wait i'm using the maps to get to the spot so i had no idea yeah what i was doing and so i was like well screw it so i just started driving around ellensburg waiting to see a big group of like subaru people
Speaker: Sure enough. I drive past this. party yeah something like that yeah it was a coffee shop and I drive by I'm like oh there's a bunch of Subarus that must be them yeah So I ripped over there. Sure enough, that was it. Yeah, I still have all the pictures from that trip too, yeah.
Speaker: Same. Same, dude. Yeah, I was i was half asleep. when you I think it was... ah You and then. Why can't I remember? I think it was Kim. what'ser Yeah, Kim.
Speaker: Yeah, I was so like. just passed out when you guys like woke me up i don't even popped your head out and you're like huh and then i don't even think you got out i think you just went might have went back to bed No, I didn't I didn't Because I don't even have any recollection of it.
Speaker: Yeah. if Yeah, it was like 2 or 3 in the morning. We did roll up. So, I mean, there was a group of, I don't know, maybe 10 cars, you think? Yeah, 10 or 12 cars. yeah Yeah, it was it was a good size. There was a lot of... lot of good people that I met for the first time on that trip.
Speaker: But. We couldn't find a camp spot. Oh, yeah. we're Yeah, we were up in the hills above Leavenworth. And we finally found... um that one that one area and we're all like set up for camp we're all just chilling
Speaker: And I don't remember who found it, but there was like this big. pile of rocks and we thought there was like a dead body or something oh yeah i definitely could smell it and i called like the sheriff's office like the day we got back or something and they were like freaking out they're like what why did you wait and i'm like bro it's like memorial weekend i wasn't gonna bug you guys with that and so i had it was crazy i had the sheriff of that county. call me and like the undersheriff like the actual the like elected sheriff and i was like whoa
Speaker: That's crazy. So I gave him the coordinates, and I guess they went up there. and I found out it was a dog. like Somebody had buried like their two dogs up there or something. Remember the tweakers in the RV? Yeah, dude. Let us know they had guns. And then the the old naked dude sitting in his lawn chair drinking beer, waving at us as we drove by. I miss the dude drinking beers. yeah And...
Speaker: I think I was like 30 seconds behind everybody when... When everyone pulled into that parking lot, the people threatened you guys? What exactly happened with those people? Because by the time I pulled up, everybody just had this like serious look on their face like, oh, no, we need to leave. Yeah. So we had pulled up and there was like a. um like Breaking Bad, like trait like RV in the parking lot.
Speaker: And they had dogs that were barking and stuff. and um Some chick. comes out or screams at us and i mean there's 12 subarus and obviously we're subaru drivers are not the most threatening looking and then they yell at us that we need to leave and they have guns and everyone I'm just like I was like hell yeah let let's go and everyone else is like freaking out i think and i was like i'm sleeping on the ground in like cougar country or something um Dude.
Speaker: 100%, man. And I don't even care to say, like... I just think that if you're fumbling, you're right. to to protect yourself using a firearm like you're fumbling bro yeah big time It's one of those things where you hope you never need it. but yeah i don't care to say like i'm about that life to the fullest oh yeah no definitely yeah i remember when that happened i showed up you know because like i said i was you know maybe like Hold my arm. Eighth mile. I don't even know now.
Speaker: But, um, When I got there, everybody was like... being all weird and i was like hey what's up guys like yeah like what's going on hey guys hey guys yeah yeah and they're like Dope. Those people just. just threatened us with guns. And like, so I was like,
Speaker: Oh, did they? Yeah, you're in a party, man. Again, I'm not about like causing confrontation or whatever, but I sure as frick am. ready to deal with it you know and like if you just threaten my homies that are like the least threatening people out here dude Don't think I'm not going to stick up for the homies. That trip was sick.
Speaker: Um, There were, there was just like a crazy amount of. like different types of terrain from like super dusty, like silt. Oh, yeah. you know, like some pretty rocky terrain.
Speaker: Can you? um' i'm trying to think was that kind of like one of the first times you'd really done like a true off -road trip that was yeah that was definitely one of the biggest trips i had done since i'd moved to washington like i was i was amazed at like the scenery and never seen anything like that did you ever go back in one of your cars and do any of that not that not yet i haven't no um Just because I for whatever reason I've waited i haven't gotten skids yet in that section you definitely want some skids
Speaker: so I definitely want to get some skid plates on before I go because once I do that I'll definitely hit up that. uh section. Maybe the whole thing. Yeah. Oh, dude, that'd be sick. Like a full top to bottom. Rip.
Speaker: just wait I just ordered a rooftop tent. uh couple weeks ago so we yeah i'm waiting for it to come in should be here this week So what'd you go with? ah So i'm I'm a cheap, I'm a cheap person.
Speaker: I'm always hunting for sales and stuff. um Originally, my budget was going to be like a thousand bucks, somewhere around there. But Iron Man. 4x4 was clearancing out one of their tents, their uber light tent.
Speaker: Normally it was like $1 ,200 and it was on clearance for $699. So I was like, dang. Yeah, I would. Man. So they they still have it. Yeah, they still have some, I guess. they really Yeah. Dude, let me... Let me check the website. you Definitely. It's called Uber. Iron Man 4x4. They're Uber light. So it only weighs 104 pounds.
Speaker: Dude, it is on sale. What the fudge? And so I was... i was going to order it i was going to order it and there's going to be i was going to i emailed them to see if i could pick it up down in oregon just drive down there But I guess they don't have that anymore all their stuff comes from ah Pennsylvania.
Speaker: Okay, like one of their... Yeah. Distribution. they don't have I guess they don't have a storefront. I guess there's a... um I forget what the the name of it's iron something. down in Oregon, I believe. Yeah, Iron Rigs. Iron Rigs, that's it, yeah. Yeah, lauren rho Brandon works for them. Lauren Rhodes, I think, a friend of mine, she has gotten some stuff through there. Great person too. if you ever I know you've met her. but ah Yeah dude.
Speaker: So I, I just met her at the over, well, I didn't even really meet her. I didn't know who she was, yeah but I'd seen her on social media. Like she added. my Subaru account. on there and um I had no idea. Because, dude, I just...
Speaker: Don't really look at social media very much. I'm not good at it. I hate it. I hate looking at screens. But, uh... Yeah, I wish I had known who she was when I was there in person this, you know, past week and a half or whenever that was.
Speaker: Um, cause I was like, okay, this person seems like somebody cool, you know, like yeah definitely a cool person to get along with. yeah yeah um What kind of car does she drive? She drives a Crosstrek. I think she has like the Iron Man lift kit on it and stuff.
Speaker: Um, I think she might have the spec C on it, if I'm not mistaken. Heck yeah. um You mentioned that you guys did like a, I think you said like a five day trip. Yeah. uh just recently uh was it I think it was like May 29th to June like second or something. We did a five day road trip from.
Speaker: uh we did well we hit up three national parks we did uh glacier yellowstone and grand teton and five So four states in five days. Like 22 over 2000 miles. Yeah.
Speaker: Killing warranties one day at a time. Oh, I know. I bought that. i bought Hey, I buy that extended warranty, man. i Heck yeah. That 10 -year, 100 ,000 -mile one.
Speaker: So. Let's go Um, what what all did that trip involve was there any off -roading involved or was it more of just like boom this is long distance and we're just trying to get to these national parks oh so i mean Off -roading, we did drive through like some forest roads. and um on our first Night.
Speaker: We're staying in like the National Forest, I think in Montana somewhere. And um that was our camping place, definitely in bear country, had bear lockers and stuff. and I was sleeping inside my car.
Speaker: I had my 308 with me and my nine. I didn't know what to expect. I was ready to go. Dude, because they get like, they don't just get the little black bears out there either. They get the big boys.
Speaker: And like sidebar too, I just started hunting. Last year I got into hunting, so. No, I just started in the Olympics doing grouse hunting, a little 22. Oh, sick. Okay.
Speaker: I ran into like a 500 -pound like black bear while I was out grouse hunting. I was like, I need something bigger. a lot of people think like oh i need ah a truck to go out hunting or whatever but i'm guessing that You know, I mean, if you're doing like a small game or like grouse hunting, you probably don't need anything crazy. but has the Subaru still been able to kind of get you out to all the places that you've tried to go? Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean.
Speaker: What is it? There's a saying too, at the end of every trail, there's a Prius. So. I've never heard that. I mean, when you go off -roading, man. I've never heard that. yeah Whenever you go off -roading or going somewhere, there's always a Prius.
Speaker: in a crazy parking lot up at the top of the mountain or something there's a Prius up there Um, maybe not so much with Priuses, but you've done Silver Star with us, right? I have not, no.
Speaker: Oh, you haven't? Not yet, no. Okay, okay. That's a fun little trail. We'll all have to... Dude, I really need to meet up with you again, dude, and hit some trails. Yeah, absolutely. I need to head down towards you guys. Yeah, I got nothing going on out where I live now, but I usually.
Speaker: Head out to like the Dalles and Hood River and Trout Lake area. which I know is still a mission for you, but... oh no we need to make it happen after doing Four states in five days, I think anything. possible.
Speaker: Yeah. Okay. Okay. Sorry. I didn't mean to get us off on a crazy tangent. Yeah, I interrupted your national park story, bro. So how did the rest of that trip turn out? it was great i've always wanted to go out there i mean when i drove from florida to washington I stopped in Grand Teton.
Speaker: National Park and I didn't realize how close like Yellowstone is. to... and even glacier how close they are to kind of proximity to each other I've never been to Glacier yeah I only went to eat.
Speaker: is it Is it pretty sick? Yeah, it's pretty awesome. We didn't spend too much time there. Um, And crazy story is that we actually.
Speaker: Please. wrote up i mean there's fit we had 12 Subarus on this trip. And. um Dang, bro. Yeah, we run we pull up to this spot and we see this truck up there. and we there's Three guys.
Speaker: standing there and if two turkeys. two dead turkeys on the ground. I'm like, that's kind of weird, especially in a national park. And they have like camo on and stuff. and we had uh one of our friends that was with us is like a force ranger for us force service and she's like yeah that's that's not good either ah Wait, who is that? Have I met that person? I don't think so. Her name is Christina.
Speaker: Okay. She actually, she might have been at, she was at Overland Expo. Last year, she drove a... um like a red cross track. She ended up getting a flat.
Speaker: through a side wall. That year. ah Wait, I remember that story. I wasn't there for it. That was before I showed up that day. but Yeah, I do use the one that had the the drinks in the now gene that was pass them around at that one night. I think you were there for that night.
Speaker: Wait, really? Like, like liquor? I think so, yeah. Oh, I didn't have any of that. I don't think I was. No. I wasn't present for that. I was. ah Maybe not. Maybe that was before you got there. Patrick gave me a Zen and it got me all zoinked out. A little Zimbabwe, a little Upper Ducky.
Speaker: Yeah. It wasn't even a Zen. It was some other brand. And they were like, I can't, it was something crazy, like 10 or 12 milligrams. I was like, whoa, fudge. Oh, yeah. I tried it once. and Put me on my ass.
Speaker: Wait, so what happened with the with all the turkeys and stuff? Oh, so we get to the visitor center for... um the national park and Christina goes and talks Ori.
Speaker: group of us go and talk to um like the rangers or the staff, whatever, and they actually call the law enforcement officer. And this dude comes up, Ranger Rick looking guy, like.
Speaker: Best. Like, ready to go, like, pants tucked into his boots, like, kind of guy. and um he was like Whoa. But yeah, no, definitely. Um,
Speaker: Can't find that. and i guess we found out like even if they didn't hunt in the national park. it's still legal to bring in like dead wild game into a national park.
Speaker: so Okay. Dude that's... do Do you know if they caught him or anything? I don't know. Um, I haven't heard anything yet, but they definitely, I mean. They definitely knew who they were.
Speaker: from. the reports oh there were priors not priors but like contact they had we they had enough information that they were able to. figure out. Who they... the...
Speaker: owner of the truck was and stuff so not sure if it's ongoing not sure what's going on with that but what do you think was the highlight of that trip in particular For me, it was definitely Yellowstone.
Speaker: like seeing the the ah We kept saying Buffalo. and Kept getting corrected by our forest ranger that was with us saying they're bison and They're Buffalo.
Speaker: But no, seeing all the bites. It's all the same thing to me. I know. I kept saying Tatanka when I was dancing with wolves around Yellowstone. and um I... ah see Yeah, seeing all the bison with all the babies. It was great. And then I saw a grizzly bear and...
Speaker: It was just... it was it was awesome all the the pools and stuff all the different colors and See an Old Faithful go off. Yes, yes like We were only there for like two days or something. i think and It was, I need to go back.
Speaker: Definitely. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I think when I went. I think it was like... 11 months old or something. I have no recollection of it. it's time for ah Time for round two.
Speaker: Yeah, I think it's... um You know, I mean... you could technically take like a Honda Civic out and do a trip like that. Oh definitely. If, if you knew for sure, like.
Speaker: It's only going to be pavement or whatever. But i I just love that like you can jump in a... you know Subaru Outback or Forester or whatever. head across the country. And as long as you've got decent enough tires.
Speaker: you can kind of know like, well, it doesn't. really matter what exciting like what side exploring I want to do. or what we run into we'll probably get through with no problem you know what i mean absolutely yeah and i got it set up to where I have like a platform in the back. i sleep on and I keep my cooler. and all that kind of stuff in there. and Um,
Speaker: Yeah, I was ready to go. That was good. That was comfortable. What do you think you averaged for gas mileage on that trip? I was getting around. Um,
Speaker: 2526. Miles per gallon. yeah Even with. um I'm trying to think. I think you said you were running. 235. 235. 235. 65 17s Okay.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, that's not substantially like way bigger than stock, but it's it's enough and it's a heavier tire just in general. And I and I. ah I mean, and I have like the awning on there too, a little four foot ARV awning. And then my traction pads are up top.
Speaker: but I think I think I get better gas mileage than what the computer says. um it's average of it i guess but I feel like some of the dry bits. gets a little bit better.
Speaker: And it's also not factoring in that you're that you're running bigger tires. So you're technically going a further distance. and with that tire size it's not gonna be crazy but it does add up Over. you know over the you know the entire trip What do you think is the craziest off -road experience you've had in a Subaru? um Honestly, I probably would say... It was, um... Actually, it was out in Tahuya.
Speaker: I don't know if you've ever been out there. I haven't, but I've seen all the videos. that place yeah we did We did a run out there. and um I didn't. I didn't take my car out there, but I was I rode in like a bunch of different i just was hopping between cards every time we stopped And. um I wrote with...
Speaker: I think his name is Dennis. He drives a like a lifted It's like D -E -N -I -Z. Oh, I know who that is. I've never met him in person. Really cool dude. I know who that is. I rode in his like little lifted WRX.
Speaker: was bombing through it he had like a big sub in the back like it was awesome That's tight. Then my buddy had like his 86 4Runner with clapped out suspension.
Speaker: Oh, let's go, dude. bouncing Bouncing all over the place and that. and I was loving that. What do you think in terms of stuff that you've had either your Forrester or your Outback on? What do you think is kind of the most? uh just rough terrain you've had it on.
Speaker: Hmm. but I mean, for the Forester, it's probably doing those that BDR section. And the Outback. Five and six. Yeah, five and six. Um,
Speaker: The Outback. Not really. I mean. Unless we're counting like snow. Like up in the mountains. Oh, dude, we got to count snow. yeah like Definitely snow snow up in the mountains, up in the Olympics.
Speaker: That's a couple feet deep. and Just slugging through it. get stuck a little bit you gotta pull out the traction pads to get out kind of thing. So that's probably that in the Outback. It's definitely a...
Speaker: It's pretty fast winter. up there Not this winter, but the winter before. um I think. That was a pretty solid winner, right? Last winter sock button. The winter before that was decent, at least out here. It was it was Buck. I was like, yeah, dude. Aside from...
Speaker: uh that sidewall situation you have with the all seasons if you broke anything else on the trails On the trails, no. Nothing on the trails. Definitely replaced a few axles.
Speaker: Okay. And that's that's where that ah that Subaru. uh gold warranty on, uh, on the Forester and then I bought got on the Outback too. $100. actually it was on the forester I only replaced them once.
Speaker: And they ended up refunding me because I think they were still under warranty. Okay, if I pre -owned warranty, but yeah a hundred bucks to replace the axles like it could be like four axles and it's only a hundred bucks and then With OEMs? Yeah, OEMs at the dealership. They'll do it. It's like a $100 deductible.
Speaker: um They didn't. they didn't try to deny that claim for any like They didn't see any of your mods and were trying to, like, hassle you about it? No. and Really? Yeah. Yeah, I think that might have been before I had like a lift kit on the Forester.
Speaker: But i just recently, the Outback, I've taken that. there and i had think i had the two front the left and right uh front axles replaced That's what's up. Cause I, I think OEM axles are between like five and 600 bucks just for the part. oh yeah so oh definitely definitely for itself yeah on my forester too i've gotten i uh had like the air AC compressor.
Speaker: replaced. like ac compressor condenser replaced and that was only 100 bucks um had all the bushings and end links and all those replaced on that. hundred dollar deductible so you're talking like probably twelve, thirteen, fourteen thousand dollars in maybe work.
Speaker: depending on. Shop prices. I know the AC compressor is definitely up there yeah But yeah, that $100 deductible. definitely recommend extended warranty i know people joke about extended warranties but They're definitely a lifesaver win.
Speaker: you have something come up like that. And well, I think what's good with that extended warranty is it's through like a third party. if They're getting paid for it. If it's like a four -hour job and they do it in one hour, they're still getting, I think, paid for four hours. for Yeah, like flat rate.
Speaker: by the warranty people so i mean they like the warranty jobs because they're going to get paid regardless they'll get paid for it Okay. Okay. Um, I got to ask you this, man. It's not super often that I get to talk to people who've had.
Speaker: two of like a similar model year like an outback and a forester What would be kind of like your comparison between those two cars? Is there anything about the Forester that you've missed or is there anything about the Outback where?
Speaker: You felt like, oh man, I missed this thing about the Forester. Oh, I really like this compared to the Forester. i think honestly the only thing like the forester i feel like had a lot better gas mileage for some reason.
Speaker: um Interesting. But other than that, I think the Outback... that I have, I mean. It's way better. I mean, it's I got CarPlay in it. and um I feel like Jeremy Clarkson. I got the flappy paddle gear shifters.
Speaker: Oh let's go. Yeah, it's got race car. But. And it's definitely a lot more room. I mean, the Forrester had more headroom. in the back but The Outback is definitely a lot longer.
Speaker: I could. Yeah. sprawl out in there. and So i definitely think you I definitely like the Outback a little bit better. Okay. Yeah, for car camping, I think the Outback is is number one, bro. Oh, yeah.
Speaker: um do you Do you feel like that makes it? uh I mean, obviously I know it's just like a ah small amount. of length difference, but do you feel like it makes it any more difficult to drive off -road?
Speaker: No, I haven't haven't had any problems. um and honestly i mean even with the stock engine Feel like ads. both have plenty of power. Never had issues where I doubted.
Speaker: what it can do so Anything about the Subaru platform. just in general that you don't like. I know the CVT probably people have issues with and that stuff. I haven't had issues with mine. even in the forest or the um to help back.
Speaker: but um ah wish some I wish you could get them possibly without like all the driver assist and everything. Yeah, right. Something a little bit more bare bones. Yeah. I mean.
Speaker: what's nice is my ears they still have all the buttons for like the ac controls and all that kind of stuff i know for those couple years they went to that big like computer screen where they got rid of all the buttons and um I know i had I had a rental car. It was a Subaru Legacy. I think it was like a 25 Subaru Legacy that I got from Peninsula.
Speaker: And. It would like. Had like a camera and that would watch you and if you got distracted it would flash a mirror flash a message on like the windshield with like the heads up display saying like pay attention kind of thing and i'm like bro what is this thing it's like The Terminator like watching me while I'm driving what's going on here Dude.
Speaker: i know I know they're kind of trying to like meet federal regulations and stuff with all that stuff. Yeah. dude but like epa what is it like nitta and the epa that Um, sort of like mandate all the new stuff. Maybe. i'm not I can't remember exactly like what all the government agencies are. yeah Dude, they piss me off so bad. these yeah stupid things like it just makes cars more expensive yeah it makes it worse like Yeah. dude more stuff to break more you know just
Speaker: anytime you stuff more technology into a car it's like cool now i gotta to Worry about this. Pray for this. Yeah, dude, what the fudge? We're not going to be able to keep these cars for 30 years. Oh, I know. It's yeah not going to make sense. And I think with the new the new models of the...
Speaker: Everything. I think I want to say like the 25s or... um They went back to buttons on certain things. Like. That's what I heard. I think a lot of people are rejoicing.
Speaker: that they got dude on one of those people i was i was stoked when i heard that yeah actually and then thinking about it one thing i would replace is definitely the head unit.
Speaker: Um, Mine's terrible. Like I lose. the volume on it just there's something wrong i think the amplifiers the internal amplifier is blown Okay. I got you. Yeah. got quoted to replace it like $900 again, so.
Speaker: Was it covered on the extended warranty? Yeah, I know. I was like, I'm good. sidebar with that going on to tell you why subaru is pretty awesome when i went on that the expo. And that's some of the Subaru of America people.
Speaker: I think his name was Joe. I was telling him during the event, I was like, hey, man, like I've been having problems where if I turn my volume up past 28, like I lose all the bass and then the volume just. stays the same or it goes down lower.
Speaker: Kind of weird. um he's like all right when we get back like wait a week let me get selling in and like take it to the dealership and whatever see though the warranty will cover it which the warranty i guess didn't cover it So I let him know, and then he... Talk to people at Super America. and he said well they can only cover half of it and i was like oh that's i was like okay yeah and then he's like well for like the inconvenience or whatever he's like i'm gonna go ahead and give you uh $400 in REI gift cards.
Speaker: what I'm like, I know. I'm like, bro, what? what I'm like. he's like I'm like well do I have to um Do I have to, like... get like the thing and he's like no no you could you could just you have them kind of thing.
Speaker: just for like the inconvenience of it not being covered on the warranty, whatever I think, or exp spot whatever it was. And I was like, huh. I was like, okay, bet. Let me go get some. ah and go get some camping stuff.
Speaker: so that was pretty cool definitely um I haven't really. The way I've been treated by Subaru. Definitely a lot better, I think, than... stories I've heard from other auto manufacturers.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. That's what I've heard. um Subaru of America. I mean your experience. with each dealer is going to vary pretty heavily. yeah But everybody that I've talked to that's ever been like, I'm going to reach out to SOA and get some help.
Speaker: they always They always hook it up, dude. I mean, within reason, like, you know, if you, if you abuse your card. blow it up doing stupid stuff they're not going to do anything for you but Um, I get team.
Speaker: get the impression that they want people to. be able to say, yeah. like These people kill it. and I think they want to. preserve the reputation that they've built absolutely that's sick dude um You got to tell me a little bit about that expo experience. What was what was the whole deal with that?
Speaker: Oh yeah. So. um My friend Melissa, she's a Subaru ambassador. And she's in Bremerton, which is about... 20 25 minutes maybe not even 25 minutes but right near me and um She said that. They wanted some Subaru owners to go to the expo and they would pay for.
Speaker: like our tickets for the weekend. They gave us a $50 REI gift card if we needed anything before like going there that we'd go get. Um, They catered our meals for the weekend.
Speaker: with Awesome chefs I guess. Chef Chad was there again this weekend or this past expo. um And... um Yeah, we were on the grounds. I think we were the only...
Speaker: manufacturer auto manufacturer there that actually had like owners that were participating in like showing off their rides and stuff. so we had like the I forget what they called it, like base camp or something.
Speaker: yeah They had us all all around, and we were just... in their campings and around. Shooting shit. That's where I met Patrick from ADF and his wife. yeah Awesome people. la Yeah, great people. Grats on there, baby.
Speaker: I know that. but yeah and she's getting big i know i bet yeah um Met some great people there too. um and neil i think down in california um yeah neil skis bro neil skis yeah And then um I can't remember people's names. I can remember they're like candles at like Starscream.
Speaker: um Yeah, Brandon. Brandon, yeah. And then. um Red beard. guy named red beard ye rv tracks yeah there you go yeah don't know their actual names but no nicknames and stuff Um,
Speaker: I guess that's how it goes when you have online friends and you finally meet them. yeah absolutely but yeah a great group of people um spent too much money. there too.
Speaker: met matt from off -road recovery which is pretty cool yeah dude him and his wife awesome people They're just there hanging out, talking to us. And then Ree, Travis Lestrana's co -driver.
Speaker: Awesome, awesome person. She came and hung out with us in the camp. and like actually like was there to like talk to us not just like a force kind of thing like she had to do it but like generally like was Just a down to earth, very nice person.
Speaker: yeah she's a real one dude i like her yeah no she's awesome crazy australian um they They know how to do it. they Yeah, they're a different breed out there.
Speaker: Yeah, that's for sure. Did you... um Did you do any off -roading while you were at the expo? Yeah, we did actually. um I think. Patrick took us out. to some spots. And I mean, I was a little intimidated.
Speaker: Following him and that lifted. ah Outback where scott or the Forrester he's got. Yeah. yeah and then uh There were some other guys that were there. And I forget where we went, but we went. um It was awesome.
Speaker: um and then uh I can't remember his name, but the owner of Prius Offroad. met us out there yeah he's cool dude i was like what i'm like looking i see this white prius like brand new prius lifted with some ah big lights on the roof i'm like what is that and then yeah he's a cool dude man made me Made me want a new Prius and lift it and stuff like that.
Speaker: That, I don't know what trail that was. um And also, I don't know why I said Forrester, because you're right, Patrick did have his Forrester and his Outback. out back at there. Uh, last year. Sorry. didn i Sound like a butthole. but um you know I don't remember what trail that was, but I do remember when we were on it.
Speaker: we kind of came to this fork in this. this wild man in a Prius just rolls off. I was like, what is this? And I was like, Oh, it's Eric, dude. Like that's what's up. That was my first time meeting him. uh, But, yeah, that dude's that dude's crushing it, I think, Patrick. builds.
Speaker: A lot of parts for him. and so they're they're they're pretty tight but Yeah, yeah like you were you were out there with us too. And I remember, I think we went to the, we all rolled up to the Walmart and. Yeah, stuff fred meyer our Fred Meyer. Yeah, Fred Meyer. and Um, Yeah, everyone's like looking at us like, what the hell are these people doing? i'm curious about that. BDR trip that you took five and six up all the way to Canada.
Speaker: Dude. I need to hear about that experience. I've never done five and six. Can you kind of tell me a little bit about like. um You know, if somebody is going to do that section or those sections. What was the terrain like? And then...
Speaker: What was that experience like when you did it? Yeah, no, I mean, I was obviously I was in my Forester. i don't I didn't have my Kingsprings in. So it's stock height. Just had some little... a bit bigger than stock like wild peaks on.
Speaker: And then. um It was... I mean, the hardest thing that I was really worried about was or not even really worried was like that. They call that moon dust. Where it's just like that yeah really deep, silty sand. and It like you drive through it and it's like.
Speaker: Car in front of you goes through and you're gonna be like you can't see nothing and you can't stop because if you stop you lose all your momentum or you're just stuck enough a drive. puddle of Still.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah, for somebody who's... like If you've never experienced it, it's not really easy to explain, but it's it's next level, dude. I got a video of me driving through it. I stuck my phone out the window so you can just see how like powdery it is. it's like It's nuts.
Speaker: And then. ah they uh let's see what else is that um there were some rocky sections but like i said um just took my time going through them and people kind of like spotted for me and Help me get through it without smashing my oil pan.
Speaker: So I would definitely... Say, yeah, I mean, if you're in a... Stop. car. or stock height. Forester or something. You can definitely do it.
Speaker: We didn't. How bad were the rocks that you ended up going through? not bad i mean it might have just been like a kind of like a river bed dried river bed or something or creek.
Speaker: that um something like that or just like maybe Foot wide boulders. that were maybe sticking up a little bit but Nothing. Nothing too crazy.
Speaker: Was it rock crawling? Okay, okay.
Speaker: um How many days do you feel like? Um, i Like I said, I've never done it, but how many days was that trip? that was just a weekend trip i think we left on like a friday morning and or friday Friday afternoon or something, or Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I believe.
Speaker: Um, Okay. That's not bad. Crazy. Yeah. who old you go with was it just you and a couple people or did you have oh no it was yeah it was that one was a big convoy i want to say that one had like 16 cars on it sixteen zo Yeah, it was huge. Was that a sack trip? Yeah, it was definitely a sack trip.
Speaker: We were stacking all around. ah Sacking and tapping.
Speaker: Just for reference, that's Subi Adventure Club, by the way. A great group of people. Awesome trip. What are your next mods? for the outback like what are what are maybe the next like three or four mods you want to do to it Um,
Speaker: definitely want to do definitely want to get the skid plate at least the front skid plate um possibly some. front heavy springs Maybe. um or a leveling kind of level it out yeah the backs are lifted a little bit um And then... ah
Speaker: let's see what else we got the rooftop tent going on Um,
Speaker: Yeah, I don't know don't know what else i mean it's right there It's kind of like right where I want it without having to. drop A ton of money on it. But um yeah, yeah, no um I'm liking it where it's at right now Once I really, once I get the rooftop tent, that's kind of.
Speaker: like i can do more trips without having to like It's just a pain keeping all the stuff in the back, moving it to the front seats or on the roof. and then having to move the seats back in the morning and that and or def Like.
Speaker: inside gets all steamed up and then you gotta Yeah. get all that get rid of all that and Wait 20 minutes before you can go somewhere kind of thing. So. Yeah.
Speaker: What? um What? is required in order to run that rooftop tent. Do you have stock roof rails or did you have to do any upgrades there? I do have stock roof rails on the outback.
Speaker: like And I did a ton of research into it. Um, all the folks in the group chat were like oh you need to upgrade the roof racks and i probably will do that Um,
Speaker: like What I found out is there's a dynamic weight and a static weight with roof racks. Yeah. ah like the dynamic weight on the roof rack is like 150 pounds so that's like while you're driving So if... My roof rack weighs only 104 pounds. uh the roof rack My roof rack can hold like 150 dynamic.
Speaker: Static is going to be like 600 or 700 pounds. That's like while you're camping. kind of thing. Okay. Um. So actually, I was talking to Patrick about it, too. I was messaging him on Instagram. Because I know he has his heavy duties.
Speaker: And he was telling me about how. Flexible and stuff they are The stock ones have the garbage. So I'm probably going to buy some from him. his or it is a pretty good He's got a good reputation with them, so I'll probably get some of his aftermarket rails that just bolt into the spot of the stock ones.
Speaker: Wait, did he start? Doing roof rails, bro? I think for the Outbacks, yeah. i't I'm not sure if it's for other models. but i but And I'm pretty sure it's just for the Outbacks. either like a heavy -duty roof rail oh i see it Yeah, I see this. Yeah, this is for your...
Speaker: for your car Hold up, this is sick. 1⁄8 inch steel And the mounting brackets are quarter inch, which that's beefy, bro. That's sick. And what he was telling me is like.
Speaker: um, with the dynamic weight of like while you're driving like if you hit a big pothole or something or That could like... double your weight your dynamic weight so your 150 pounds turns into 300 pounds.
Speaker: And then. That's going to. Smacked your ear. roof rails and smack into your roof and stuff. So. Never really knew there was but that much science into roof racks. all that kind of thing with weight and stuff learned a lot Yeah, I'm looking at that product listing right now, dude. Those things are beefy and they don't look like they'd be that hard to install either. No, I think it's just a couple screws. and Yeah.
Speaker: Oh, that's sick. Oh, I'm glad we're talking about this because I think this is something that a lot of people would probably. in need of. Oh definitely, yeah. That's sick. Yeah, and just shameless plug, if anybody needs to buy ADF stuff, definitely use that discount code.
Speaker: Yakima Thule or whatever they say is $800 for a roof rack. Dude, it's crazy. um What about... Do you have any... plans or have you ever found a need to do anything like um like a cbt external cooler Uh, Not yet I haven't. I know some people do. em um I know on the Montana trip. I felt like my oil was getting a little hot. But I mean, we were blasting through the mountains.
Speaker: So I got it to like 245. On Oil Town. So. Yeah, I didn't know if that. was just my car not cooling good or I know they have those. um Those louvers in the front that open and close So I'm not sure if those were.
Speaker: clothes for better gas mileage or how that is or If I just remove those or something to... have it always open for Better airflow. How are you monitoring all those temps?
Speaker: so on the at least i just do the oil temp uh it's like an in -car monitor in the the head unit. Really? Yeah, it has an oil temperature. uh oil temp kind of thing it was like your acceleration do your acceleration or.
Speaker: um i think you like you're body roll and that kind of thing so Okay. ah What trim level is that Outback? Is it a premium? I think it's a premium. Yeah. heated seats and electric seats and all that kind of stuff so okay pretty nice Okay.
Speaker: I'm trying to think. Not leather seats though, right? Not leather seats, cloth seats, yeah. okay yeah so it's a premium most likely okay how do you get to that to that menu to to see those uh ah those things Just go to the home screen and then there's a... like a app. on the home screen that says driving statistics i think You just click on that and then it's got.
Speaker: it says vehicle monitor and then you just click on that and Kind of shows you what your stats are. do Does it tell like CVT temps and it does engine coolant temps? No, it doesn't.
Speaker: Okay. I think it just says oil temp. I mean, unless there's like a secret menu you can get into. But I know some people have like the OBD2 readers, I believe.
Speaker: where yeah the scan gauge too or whatever yeah or they have that in it as um all that because i know one of the guys he had his plugged in and had his like top temp like alarm to go off at like 237 and we were obviously okay Quite a few of us were above that, so his alarm kept going off. for high oil temps.
Speaker: Yeah, I think. um those scan gauges because i know not every subaru has the option to go through and see like your transmission coolant or you know your transmission fluid temp and your Engine coolant temp.
Speaker: And dude, if you got a CVT, I think. that scan gauge. They're probably what like 200 bucks or something. I think it's like some of the best money you can spend even if all you can see is the coolant and the cbt fluid i'll have to check that out bro if you if your cbt fluid gets too hot even a few times like You're gonna... drastically reduce the life of the of the transmission that scares me so much.
Speaker: Hopefully. Yeah, no. No, thanks. Yeah, no, definitely. That's a big bill. yeah have Yeah, no, thank you, dude. What about Tor Clocker? You ever thought about doing one of those? Nah, I mean, I don't.
Speaker: I don't see myself doing anything too crazy. off with off -roading. Mostly just. like what I do now and are Going out. Maybe it's like the dunes or something. Go camping out there.
Speaker: maybe someone like the flat Mojave or something like that, but nothing like Not wrong. Crawling or anything. I don't know if anything I do really would require Locker. the The stuff that you do. in your Subaru, I think is probably like the.
Speaker: best case scenario for these cars because i think a lot of people will buy them and just think well if i just lift it put bigger tires it's basically going to be like a Straight axle swap Toyota, right? Yeah. In reality. like yeah dude like there's it's not the same thing and you're just going to end up. kind of destroying the car you know trip after trip if you're taking it out there and just... beating the you know beating the crap out of it but You know, it sounds like a lot of the stuff you're doing is like.
Speaker: This is my car that I'm using to do these specific activities that just so happen to require driving off. the pavement. And that's where these cars just absolutely thrive. Like you can do 40 miles an hour.
Speaker: I'm like a super beat up. gravel road oh yeah no i loved it yeah not saying i do that up in the national forest but of course not the speed limit's only 25. Right?
Speaker: Yeah, we we don't break any laws around here. Not ever. Definitely law abiding citizens. um Dude, I should have asked you this earlier, but... um I know.
Speaker: Like the car scene is way different in Florida. Um, But what in the world possessed you to go from... you know, like a slammed. you know, focus hatch to getting a Subaru, like what was kind of the draw for, for you with the Subaru brand?
Speaker: Um. So my forest might Um, Focus. got totaled in front of my house by like a drunk driver oh we could park on the street in our neighborhood yeah they just slammed into it and totaled it And so.
Speaker: I had been. planning on like moving to Washington. at that point and i was like well I mean this is the best. case scenario i guess if i'm gonna get something that like a Subaru, if I'm going to be up in the mountains and stuff like that.
Speaker: Um, I actually almost bought a... deep renegade which i'm super glad i didn't get that um Yeah, those are the worst Jeeps that you can buy. I know, it's terrible. Yeah, just ah a Fiat with a... Jeep body on it.
Speaker: Yeah. And then. some other stuff. um Yeah, I didn't ah Yeah, got a Forester. Got a really good price on it.
Speaker: back when used car prices were pretty cheap. wait so was it literally as simple as you just like went to the dealer to buy any car because you just had had your car totaled and you saw that we're like oh i'm just gonna get this Yeah, so I went to...
Speaker: Yeah, I want to. it I use AutoTrader. even now when i get bored i'm like oh let me go on auto trader and see what's for sale Same. and um I was looking at a bunch of things and is that.
Speaker: Jim Reeves Subaru, I think, or Subaru Tampa. And. It was a certified pre -owned. for like $20 ,000, I think it was. is It was a good price.
Speaker: Um, But I got there and I was talking to the guy and They had like sent it off for like auction or something. and then brought it back for me And then, so yeah, wait a few days, went back in. bought it. and That's the first thing I did was add that nameless Axelbeck exhaust on it. Dude, let's go. We got to do the Rice Boy stuff. Oh, yeah.
Speaker: um Did you... When you bought the car, did did you already have... You know the the thought. you know, the thought in mind, like I want to lift this thing at some point, or was that something that came?
Speaker: you know, down the road when you started. realizing like whoa there's a bunch of forest stuff i can go explore yeah no so that i definitely had that in mind that i was gonna do like an overlanding style kind of build eventually.
Speaker: for camping off -roading that kind of thing Was tired of the the lowered lifestyle Yeah, I get it. My daily is lowered. And if it was my only car, it wouldn't be lowered. Oh, yeah. Definitely. Not even close.
Speaker: um What in the world? possessed you to pick up from Florida and come out. To the northwest. So my my younger brother was stationed out here. um Oh.
Speaker: ah okay in the Navy. And he had me come out and visit like in August. that time where Obviously Washington in August is like the best time to come where super nice out sunny to like 10 o 'clock at night and Um,
Speaker: i was like after that went to like rainier went down to astoria oregon and i was like oh that's it Yeah, no, I'm moving here. This is great. That's tight. packed up my car and Drove out here in like a week and...
Speaker: Yeah, that was it. Dude, that's sick do you Do you ever miss that side of the country? You got any plans to ever move back? Anything that you...
Speaker: i've got I went to Florida back in April. and Like. I like it because where I lived in Tampa, everything's so close. Um, Like if I want to go to like a hockey game, or it's only like a 25 minute drive or the airport's only like a 20 minute drive or go to the beach, the golf. and That's like ah maybe an hour a drive or something nothing crazy Um,
Speaker: But it's just too crowded down there. Way too hot, and muggy, all that humidity. Dude, the humidity. just like what all the dads say it's not the heat it's the humidity oh yeah it's true bro yeah This heat up here.
Speaker: when i first moved to here it was like 100 degrees for like a few days like a week and I'm like, this is. This is nothing. and it's like 80 degrees and i'm like this is our christmas down in florida like This is nothing.
Speaker: but Yeah. Not having the air conditioner. and houses that was Azam. different to me when i moved up here right a little bit of a little bit of a surprise yeah keep that house down there at like 70 degrees
Speaker: Yeah, when we're like out here it gets hot as balls in the summer yeah like I think I think we're. I think we hit around 100 today. Um, And you know, we get into triple digits.
Speaker: essentially every year, but it's dry heat. So it's like. You just get out of the stupid. dry heat like out of the if you get in the shade it's like okay this is yeah like nothing and at night at night it cools off some most times and down there it's 12 o 'clock at night and still. 85 degrees of like 100 humidity Yeah. I'm gonna pass on that all day. yeah Terrible.
Speaker: Yeah. um Okay, let me ask you this question. If you could. ah maybe Maybe your answer is just... you know the outback that you have but if tomorrow somebody said hey man i got 50k for you to just go buy like any car you want what would it be?
Speaker: You know?
Speaker: There's like a couple I haven't made up my mind. I think about that a lot. I'm like I have a bunch of dealerships around me and I'm always driving by and I'm like. Well, I mean I get like the new I do like the the wilderness outbacks because they're They're turbocharged.
Speaker: um but I mean not sure all the problems but some of those uh the broncos Those are pretty nice as well. I mean if I was able to get like a Raptor Bronco 50 grand. I don't know if that would happen.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah I mean, let's just say it was a blank check, you know, like within reason. i I would love to have a Bronco with a straight axle swap. Oh, yeah. Bro. because I think they look really good.
Speaker: And. yeah they're ifs but i'm just glad somebody's making actual off -road cars again aside from just jeep yeah like I like those little Ranger Raptors too.
Speaker: I haven't... um Is it just a Ranger with like a bigger motor in it? I think a big motor. like It's like a mini F -150 Raptor. Okay, I'll do let's go dude Oh, I'd drive the piss out of that. Yeah. Ford F and Ranger, bro. They're pretty sweet.
Speaker: And it's a freaking four ranger. Yeah bro. um Do you have any advice for somebody who wants to, let's say either... They've already bought a Subaru and they're... kind of trying to figure out what they should do with it. or they're thinking about buying a Subaru because they want to kind of just get out and explore. Do you have any advice for people that are? that are wanting to do that kind of stuff.
Speaker: Um... Yeah, I mean, I talked to quite a few people at Expo last year. They were asking about like what mods to do. and um I think one of the first ones that you can do is definitely getting some. like altering some beefier tires.
Speaker: um I think that's definitely one of the... the best things to do because get like a three peak rated so let's know Um, dirt, whatever you can get.
Speaker: I would recommend that first. And then, I mean, I don't have them, but. Um, I would get skids eventually. just depending on what you're going to be doing. I mean even if you're a terrible driver and you run over a curb.
Speaker: having some ah metal skid plays. Definitely going to help you. Yeah, those. um you know, believe it or not, a lift kit. is usually not the first thing I recommend to people. Those are kind of the two things that you're going to notice.
Speaker: the biggest difference. like The skid plates. it's one of those things where once you have them on the car it's like Wait, how did I ever go off -road without these? I'm not worried about literally anything bro like it doesn't matter if i just slam on a boulder or whatever like who gives a fudge then the extra grip from the all terrains even if you keep close to the stock diameter.
Speaker: Just the extra grip and strength from an off -road tire, even if it's just a basic all -terrain. leaps and bounds better than like whatever all season probably came on your Subaru, man. like yeah like i've those are Leavenworth in the snow. with the all terrains and I mean, even being a Subaru too, I'm like.
Speaker: Don't have to worry about. tire chains really or anything like that yeah and i've never i'm never worried about Driving in the... Even when I first moved here. Never worry about driving in snow. Called out of work the first day it snowed.
Speaker: and then spend all day just driving around. getting used to it. Lesson. Wait, okay. So man that would have what year did you move out here? 2021.
Speaker: It's October 21. Dang, yeah, you were a you were a young blood when I met you that first time. You had just come out here. That's crazy. Yeah. So you'd never driven in snow. Before that. Never driven snow, no.
Speaker: Dude, that's crazy, man. Yeah, it's I don't. particularly enjoy driving in the snow on the road. yeah But once I get up and into the trails, I'm like, yeah, let's get into this. but No. What do you think is your favorite terrain to kind of get out and get into?
Speaker: Um... I mean, I definitely like, I do like the login roads. like getting off of gravel and just driving through those and All that kind of stuff.
Speaker: Yeah, I'm the same way. like in the You know, I've kind of done. So much stuff in the Subaru, like the first couple of years I had it, I did so many crazy things to that car and just. I just wanted to test kind of the limits of what you could do with like a...
Speaker: decently equipped Subaru. And. you know, once I sort of. did everything I wanted to do. Now that's kind of all I use it for is just. i just want to go explore like literally I just want to go drive. like relatively beat up logging roads or forest service roads and just see what I can find. You know what I mean? Absolutely. um okay you got any uh either like wish list trips coming up like trips that you want to do.
Speaker: or trips that you are planning to do. I definitely want to go to the arches. Out in, I think, Utah. Oh, frick yeah. Drive out there, dude. um And then I want to do a 101.
Speaker: Like. Coast trip. Like drive all the way down to California. Yeah. That's something that's on there. Go to the Redwoods. Yeah, that would be sick. And that's such a beautiful drive. regardless man yeah and you know, with a Subaru, like you. you can just do that trip if you want but if there's like little side side stuff you want to rip up.
Speaker: dude like let's go man i know i talked about like the the eyesight the super eyesight not liking it but yeah Man, on road trips, when you set that adaptive cruise control and the lane monitoring.
Speaker: I think it pretty much just drives itself. Dude, that is true. it makes That is very true. Yeah, I've um i've rented a couple cars that have like you know They're fully equipped with all the different stuff.
Speaker: And even though I don't want to own it and pay for it and deal with it. When I'm in a car that has it, I'm like, all right, this is pretty sick. yeahm Pretty sweet. I don't want it in my car, but, you know. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker: Yeah, 100%. Oh, well gosh dang it, dude. Thanks for doing this, man. Yeah, absolutely. I had a great time. Always a good time. Definitely got to come down and see you. Absolutely. Tear some stuff up.
Speaker: Yeah, no, i I really appreciate this because. You know, a lot of people I've talked to, they've got. pretty heavily modified cars but i think there's also just a ton of people that want to figure out like Or what's some of the...
Speaker: the basic stuff like i don't want to go down the whole road of yeah doing custom fabrication work like i and I don't need anything crazy. I'm just trying to go out and like. Go fishing. Go camping. like Our cars are so capable with the all -wheel drive system.
Speaker: and even with stock tires you can do so much and get out places. and I mean, pretty much any of the login roads here. on. the olympic national forest you can Go out there and drive them and not worry about anything Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, 100%, man. Yeah, I just want to encourage people to get the frick out there and see the world. Hell yeah.
