DirtSubies

Joe @21.ascent joins me on the podcast to talk about his lifted 2021 Subaru Ascent, why he chose it over buying a truck, and what it's actually like to build one for camping, exploring, and everyday life.  We get into his wheel and tire setup, lift kit, modifications, camping, Overland Expo, and what it's been like owning one of Subaru's least-modified platforms. We also spend some time talki...

Like a lot of us, Josh didn't originally buy his Subaru with plans of turning it into a dedicated off-road build. But somewhere along the way, a track-oriented daily driver turned into one of the most recognizable off-road Subarus in the Pacific Northwest. In this episode, Josh shares how he got started in the Subaru community, how he met Milton (@silverbulletxv), and what he's learned after years...

Like many of us, Molly originally bought her Crosstrek because she wanted something safe, reliable, and practical. But very quickly, she discovered the off-road Subaru community and has become an experienced driver and source of inspiration for other Crosstrek owners. In this episode, we talk about her 2017 Crosstrek build, Primitive Racing suspension, camping setups, traveling across the country...

Tom aka @4BanginWagon joins us this week to talk about his lifted Subaru builds, how Boxerfest got him excited about modifying Subies, and the terrifying accident that totaled his lifted Outback after another driver crossed into his lane. We also get into: Why he immediately bought another Subaru after the crash His new 2022 Forester build Atturo Trail Blade tires Spacer lift install process Penns...

I sat down with Jim, the owner of a 2015 Outback that actually gets used the way an off-road rig should. We talk about a major off-road error that ended up costing him thousands, what led up to it, and what he should’ve done differently. If you’ve ever hit a puddle a little too confidently, this one will hit home. We also get into building a capable Subaru in your driveway, trail riding on the Eas...

Most people just lift their Subaru and stop there. But my buddy Ryan didn’t. In this episode, we break down his Outback build that went way further than most people are willing to go. We talk about tires, suspension, offroad parts choice and real-world trail use. We also go over some things that Ryan would have gone back and done differently now that he's got more experience with the Subaru platfo...

In this episode I sit down with Cory (aka @sk8foz ) to talk about his 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness build , how he got into the Subaru off-road scene, and the lessons he learned along the way. Like a lot of people, Cory had no idea the lifted Subaru community even existed when he bought the car. Shortly after he was already on the trail scraping the bumper, overheating the car, and figuring thin...

In this episode, I’m joined by Josh aka @ Further_Motion , one of the early builders who helped kick off the lifted VB WRX movement when everyone else was busy hating on the car. We dig into why he chose a 2022 Subaru WRX, what it was like cutting into a brand new car, and how the build evolved from a daily driver into a full on safari-style experiment. Josh breaks down suspension choices, wheel a...

In this episode, I’m joined by John from Subaru Off-Road Adventures , and this one is full of good real-world Subaru experience. We get into why John stopped wheeling his newer Forester and built an SG Forester strictly for off-road use , what mods actually made a difference, and where Subarus realistically start to show their limits. We talk lift kits, CV axles, center diffs, rear lockers, and wh...

In this episode, I caught up with my friend Eric, better known as @ Bearded_Pixel to talk about his off-road 2017 Forester XT and how it ended up becoming one of the more dialed-in turbo Subarus in Arizona (my opinion.) What started as a stock daily slowly turned into a trail-ready setup with an ADF 2-inch lift, Primitive Racing skid plates, Full Force Metal Works rock sliders, Sparco wheels, Geol...

Brandt Kayser (@jackie__roo) has built one of the most capable non chassis swapped Subarus in the U.S., and today he breaks down how he built it. From lightweight Pepper Pot wheels to RaceWorks coilovers he rebuilds himself, Brandt explains every mod, every mistake, and every lesson learned. If you’re lifting a Subaru or trying to squeeze real performance out of an SG Forester, this episode is loa...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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 pla...

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...

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 heav...

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...

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

In this episode, Chris talks about what actually holds up on a daily-driven, trail-ready Subaru. We get into his rack setup, the wheel/tire choices that survive abuse (LP Aventure LP1s), and the simple rule that guides his whole build: if it doesn’t make the car more usable, it doesn’t matter. If you’re building a Crosstrek/Forester/Outback to drive every day and beat on weekends, this one’s for y...

“Pay it now or pay it later.” In this conversation, Carter explains the maintenance reality of a lifted Subaru Crosstrek: alignments, fluid intervals, and parts that actually fail when you drive hard on dirt. Plus: lighting/mounts that worked, a plate-relocation fix after installing a tire carrier, and the changes he’s making before the next race.

This is a very special episode for me. I've been using ADF parts for over 10 years and am proud to call ADF Pat a good friend. Patrick Anderson (founder of Anderson Design & Fabrication) joins me to talk about building Subaru parts that actually survive real off-road use. We dig into lift-kit geometry, tire fitment, common install mistakes, and the R&D behind ADF’s billet CVT pan (why cool...

In this episode, I sit down with Michelle (@ wazzubaru ) to talk about her very first off-road adventure in her Subaru Outback Wilderness and yeah… things got weird. From a naked guy on the side of the road, to getting threatened by people with cordless hole punchers, to getting rock rash on our wheels, this trip was anything but normal. We also talk about car mods, tire setups, and how to get sta...