Cody's the type of person who says "If you hit it, I'll follow" and then actually sends it into the sketchiest trails. In this episode, we get into his transition from a modded WRX to a Crosstrek and eventually the Outback Wilderness… plus all the off-road craziness that came with it. From blowing through sidewalls, taking summer tires into a snowstorm, overheating power steering on a cliffed out road, and sending it on Naches like he was driving a Jeep, Cody shares the real, unfiltered stories of taking an Outback Wilderness to places only 4x4's usually go. If you're into lifted Subarus, off-road trail stories, overlanding, or you just love hearing how things went horribly wrong (and somehow still worked out), this one's for you.

In this episode, we talk with Karly (@ursula_the_gx) about her lifted Subaru Outback build and what led her to make the jump to a Lexus GX460. She shares what got her started in the off-road Subaru world, how she found Off-Roading Subarus of Colorado, and what it was like to take on her first real trails with a lifted Outback. We get into the full story, from installing Primitive Racing skid plates and a custom snorkel setup to overheating CVTs and realizing the limits of a Subaru when things get serious. Karly breaks down what worked, what didn't, and how she decided to move to a body-on-frame 4x4 with 33-inch tires, Toyo Open Country A/Ts, and a body-mount chop.

Support our sponsors by using code DIRTSUBIES at checkout on meledesignfirm.com and awdadventure.com In this episode, I sit down with Dan Benoit, co-owner of Whiskey Row Automotive in Prescott Valley, Arizona, and one of the most hardcore Subaru enthusiasts you'll ever meet. We talk about his decades-long obsession with Subaru engineering, from rolling a Brat off jumps in Northern California just to see if it would break (it didn't), to building a full-blown rock crawler out of a 1991 Legacy wagon that's still street legal and drives way better than it should. Dan explains why the EJ22 might be the most bulletproof engine Subaru ever made, why old-school engineering is great, and what makes Subarus so endlessly modifiable. We get into everything from Toyota gearbox swaps to custom Bilstein shocks and even the wild story behind Subaru's 1989 endurance world record that still stands today. It's not just car talk though. Dan also opens up about his life off the wrench, overcoming serious injuries, learning to accept help, and how many lessons from the garage apply to everything else. This one's packed with stories, technical insight, and perspective from a guy who's lived the Subaru life for decades. To see an image gallery and recap of this conversation, visit https://liftedimports.com/biggest-lifted-subaru-legacy

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

In this episode, Sam breaks down his Northeast-tested Subaru Forester SJ build. If you want a reliable trail and family-camping Subaru, this is the pinnacle modification that offers comfort and capability. In this episode, we cover body armor, suspension, wheel and tire fitment, lighting, and a great camping system that stays organized. There's even a door-meets-tree story with a surprisingly easy trail-side fix. Check out this article [https://liftedimports.com/sams-offroad-2015-forester] for a full build list or go to https://liftedimports.com/sams-offroad-2015-forester

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 you. We talk mounts that don't bend, what breaks first, what's worth upgrading, and the maintenance mindset that keeps you wheeling longer with fewer surprises.

"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 cooling matters, what went into the design, and what they've learned during testing.) If you daily a lifted Subaru or you're planning your first build, this one's packed with a bunch of good info. We're pleased to have MeLe Design Firm as a supporter. Use code DIRTSUBIES at checkout for 10% off on anything in their store.

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 started in the off-road Subaru scene. This one's got stories, laughs, and some moments you won't forget.

In episode 6 of the DirtSubies Podcast we sit down with Rich, a military veteran turned off-road Subaru enthusiast, to talk about how he built his 2019 Subaru Forester for overlanding and Pacific Northwest trails. From accidentally ripping his exhaust off to testing a prototype rooftop tent, Rich shares the highs and lows of building a lifted Forester without breaking the bank.  We talk suspension setups, wheel and tire choices, trail stories, and what gear he never leaves home without. Whether you're new to off-roading or just looking for real-world insight into building a capable Subaru, this one's for you.  Here's just a few of the topics we covered: -Choosing the Forester over a Jeep -Life after the military & how it shaped his build style -Aftermarket suspension pros and cons -Real-world performance of Falken AT Trails -Skid plates, recovery gear, and camp setup 👇 Drop a comment if you've ever had to finish a trail without an exhaust 😂

In this episode, we sit down with Mitch Meadows from MeLe Design Firm to talk about the Forester that's pulling double duty as a family hauler, media chase car, and trail rig. It's not a rally car—but it's definitely seen rally roads. We get into how the build came together (spoiler: his wife thought it was stock), the parts it's running, and what it's like using a lifted LL Bean edition Subaru for everything from camping to competition support. Mitch also shares stories from the stage rally world, including the time he got a concussion mid-race and still came back for more.

Derek discusses his 2021 Subaru Forester offroad build and shares his stories of being in sticky situations on the trail.

Milton has one of the most highly modified/capable Crosstreks in the world. He sat down for over 2 hours to share all the details of his Subaru experience and even offered mod advice to newcomers.

I first spoke with Shane about his Plasma Yellow Pearl Crosstrek exactly one year ago before he lifted the car. Since then, he's done additional mods and taken it on a ton of trails. If you'd like to check out his original build article, you can see it HERE on the Lifted Imports website. [https://liftedimports.com/2021-subaru-crosstrek-offroad-build-shane/] To hear more Subaru related podcast content, check out the Subie & You podcast anywhere you listen.

In this episode, we talk with Sierra about her experiences adventuring in her Subie throughout the US camping and offroading.