Subaru Forester Mud Test 

Thanks Zachary! I appreciate that! Lemme know if you have any questions as you start your build!

Thanks and thanks for watching and commenting! 😄 I’ve actually made a new version out of aluminum. I think it looks even better.

Yeah, that's a good point!

Thanks, haha, it’s a good car, as you know! 😄

haha yeah, the famous last words!

That's a great idea! I'll do that next time for sure! Thanks Bruceyyyyy!

@@MatthewHeiskell lol you can just call me Brucey. Or "Bruce Y." I was gonna go with Brucey when I made this account but it was taken. I had to use 5 "Y's" to make it work.

Thanks! Yeah, normally it will get pretty hot during off road use. You can keep an eye on it with a scan gauge that plugs into the OBD2 port. I pretty quickly added a transmission cooler. It made a huge difference! I highly recommend it if your towing or off roading. Here is a video that I made about the cooler: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nmiQ6tZj6YE.html

@@MatthewHeiskell I had to add a transmission cooler to my Hilux, indeed I'd say you should at least consider that for ANY vehicle you're gonna hoon off-road. Just driving along with some other guys when I first got the Hilux I kept getting the ATF overheat message, and that's a conventional 4x4 auto gearbox with a low range.

Hey Jon Jon, I've done quite a few modifications and upgrades. I explain all of them in my build video. Check it out! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aTiqoysf-lc.html

I think you can run 16" wheels, but I'm not 100% sure. My Forester is a Premium too. You should ask the 2019+ Forester Facebook group. 16" wheels would be better because you would get more sidewall to flex.

I think that the Limited, Sport, and Touring have larger brakes. I think you can fit 16" wheels on the base model and Premium model. I might depend upon the wheel design too.

@@MatthewHeiskell Thanks for recommending the facebook page, just joined! I'm looking into the 16 inch wheels for that exact reason. But seriously, keep up these Forester videos, they're so informative for a bunch of us just getting into the scene. Thanks again!

You just just tap a button to disable traction control. You can pull a fuse to fully disable VDC too.

I agree! The hitch protects the rear bumper well enough, but the front bumper is usually very, very vulnerable to damage on even the smallest of dips. Actually, I think that they might have slightly changed the bumper design to gain a few degrees of approach on the wilderness forester. Maybe I’m thinking of the wilderness Outback.

@@MatthewHeiskell Actually, I just had a look at photos of the wilderness. The change is significant. Not as much as yours, but big enough. I should have had a look before writing the comment, but the algorithm has to be fed... :)

@@valdius85 Thanks for feeding the algorithm! haha Maybe you could swap a wilderness bumper onto your Forester?

@@MatthewHeiskell Japan doesn't get the best staff. We get piano black in additional places. For now I'll not need it, so it's not a big issue :)

Thanks! It is actually my DIY intake making that noise. Here is a video about it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-T5lUa_-kmBU.html

Hello Lawrence, I explain all of this in my build video. Check it out! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aTiqoysf-lc.html Lemme know what questions you have after you watch that. I'm happy to help with your build. You can also email me at matthew27104 at gmail.

Hi EtTor! Yes, you're right about the rear subframe spacers changing the rear drive shaft angle. The $20 Carrier bearing spacer fixes that. But I had a 17 mph vibration when accelerating when I had my ReadyLift 2" lift installed. I had to add the transmission mount insert to fix that.

@@MatthewHeiskell Cheers I have watched most of your vids not sure how i missed the build rundown:) so you are now driveline issue free though? I've got a subiliftoz kit which I believe is almost a direct copy of the lp adventure kit and has all the subframe spacers. I was going to buy the cke insert bit only a few days ago read some who have the ironman kit still have wobbles etc and recommend the carrier spacer.... just seems like you change one thing and another issues pops up somewhere else :) so didn't want to jump down the rabbit whole until I have everything i need

That’s good to be prepared and have all the parts. Yes, that is everything that you need. Lift kit, transmission mount insert, and the carrier bearing spacer if you kit includes rear sub frame spacers, and it should so that you can get the rear wheels into perfect alignment and keep the rear wheels centered in the wheel wells. You’re good to go! 👍

I have 2005 Foz and installed 1.5" lift kit spacers, raised King springs in rear (gets rid of droopy backside). Subiliftoz 2" trailing arm spacer kit and upgraded shock absorbers. Whiteline camber adjustment bolts for the increased angles needed for wheel alignment also extended adjustable link pins. 8ply tyres where fitted to the 16" alloy rims 215/60/16 for extra puncture protection, they have a chunky tread pattern but still perform comfortably on road... this makes for no issues with wheel rubbing as opposed to fitting larger profile A/T or M/T tyres that are heavy, alter your speedometer calibration and lose MPG efficiency. Fitted a modified XV crossover front skidplate for engine protection (bolted straight up but needed some trimming to fit). Rig is awesome on forestry trails now but still has nice road manners. No vibrations. Hope this helps.

My friend and I made it from scratch. We made a version 2 out of aluminum about a year ago. I documented the design and construction in a RU-vid video. Body Armor 4x4 might make one for your Ascent.

@@MatthewHeiskell Thanks! I found your other video about the build. Love your overall mods for your Forester, a lot of them are things I'd like to do on our Ascent. We did tires/wheels first and added the Primitive Racing skid plates (all 3 plus the front lip). We are getting a 2" lift from Rallitek in a couple weeks as well (plus a roof rack). I do want that diff breather relocation mod and a front bumper/winch at some point in the future to help with the approach angle. Ours came with the hitch receiver already that we'll use for a rear mount full-size spare. Lots to add, just doing a little at a time. We just got into offroad/overlanding about 8 months ago. Chose the Ascent since we are a family of 6 (plus dog) and love the space!

That’s awesome! Right on!

Good question! I’ve been extremely impressed with the Nomad Grapplers, but I think that this extreme mud is the one place I’d prefer the KO2s.

@@MatthewHeiskell thanks for the reply! I have a Cherokee and from what I'm seen you and I frequent all of the same types of trails.... I'm so torn because I've always had luck with the ko2 but the weight is just brutal on performance/fuel economy/drivability/ cost of the tire.

Oh nice, I like the Cherokees! They are similar in size and weight to my Forester so you’ll absolutely love the Nomad Grapplers! They were designed specifically for small SUVs. The KO2 will likely do a little better in really nasty mud, but you’re likely to get stuck anyway, and the little mud advantage is not worth all the sacrifice that you mentioned. I highly recommend the Nomad Grapplers 👍

@@MatthewHeiskell thanks so much for the advice!

Good catch! It was weird haha. I used a tripod to hold the brake so I could put it in drive. My boots were too muddy to hop into the driver’s seat. And the mud was too deep on the other side to walk around. Good eye!

My premium model has only one x-mode, the first one, but I can disable traction control while it’s enabled and it’s pretty much the same as your second x-mode… allowing more wheel spin but still controlling the open diffs.

Mud is tough. Air down and turn traction control off. Keep your momentum and keep your wheels spinning.

Thanks for that tip -- I appreciate it -- I was doing the momentum thing -- but I still had traction control on -- thinking it would help -- I'll turn that off now. I live on the worst road -- 2 miles of dirt/clay -- and once it rains or snows, it's a hellride.

Turn x-mode ON if you have it, and yeah turning traction control OFF will help. If it’s on, it will cut power when a wheel slips and kill your momentum.

@@MatthewHeiskell Thank you for this information -- I'm not sure of what "x" mode is, so I probably don't have it 😆