What? My Subaru Isn't a Jeep?? Did I Buy the Wrong Vehicle?

Almost weekly, someone chides me for driving a Subaru instead of a Jeep or other 4x4. Now, I'm no hardcore offroader. I have no interest in rock crawling as a pastime, or mudding for the sake of mudding. I just like to explore Oregon's backcountry wilderness, and sometimes that means some rough terrain along the way. Is my Subaru Forester an inappropriate rig for this? Should I, as they tell me, be driving a Jeep?

To try and answer that question, in this video I look back at the most interesting off-road challenges my Forester has faced over the past year and a half of unpaved adventures - 85 clips to be precise, from all across Oregon and a bit of California, boiled down to a fast-moving compilation of less than 10 minutes.

LET ME MAKE ONE THING ABUNDANTLY CLEAR: This video is NOT about comparing Subaru to Jeep. This video is NOT saying anything bad about Jeeps at all...the ONLY statement I make about Jeeps in this video is that they are MORE capable than my Forester. I just don't want to be told I'm wrong for making a choice that's different from your choice. By the same token there's no need for Subaru drivers to make broad derogatory generalizations about Jeep owners...ALL the Jeep owners I know are kind and respectful people who support what I do with my Subaru. Let's remember that we all share the same goal...to get out there and enjoy the backcountry. No one need bash anyone else's choice of vehicle to do that in. Thanks for keeping that in mind when commenting below. :-)

Special thanks to @silver_rd1 and @dahlenadventures for a few of the clips included here.

Some stuff I get asked a lot:

Tires: BFGoodrich T/A KO2, 215/75R15

Wheels: Black Rhino Boxer, 5x100 15x7 +15:

Lift: 1" front/1.375" rear from
Anderson Design & Fabrication here in Oregon

The bumper bar seen in most clips is made by
Rally Innovations

FuelPax 3.5 gallon gas can by Rotopax:

X-Bull Traction Boards:

Complete Forester build walkthrough video:

Support the creation of these videos via Patreon:

[judithsouthard]

My Subaru is a 2015 Forester, and I love it. It is my only vehicle. I drive it around town, in big cities, and I feel perfectly comfortable driving it to my campsites in National Forests. I hope it doesn’t make it seem less “badass” that I am a 74 year old woman.

[joelg]

I had a young fella in a car park point to my car (lifted ob on at's with roof basket and awning etc)and say "if you're going to do that, you should have bought a 4wd"
I looked at his lowered family sedan on expensive rims and tyres with an exhaust and replied "if you're going to do that, you should have bought a sports car"

You could see his brain trying to process it for a minute before he grunted and unlocked his car. Not sure if he got my point or not.

Point is, we all pick our cars for whatever reason. I modified my outback coz we already owned it and it still works great. Drive what you like, let others do the same.

[promiscuouscrab]

You: *Out in the wild, off-roading where most jeep owners never take their fluffed up mall crawlers*
Habitual Armchair Wankers: *”YoU ShOuLd Bi a jYEp! OnLi jEps cAn Do ThAt!”*

[obscene]

You're missing out on all the maintenance costs of owning a Jeep, so you clearly wouldn't understand real overlanding.. No death wobble? No 8mpg? What are you, some kind of supremacist?? Keep at it man. I'm pounding dirt as soon as I pick up a Baja. I'll enjoy the outdoors and a nice quiet ride thank you very much :) Love the videos!

[terrysweitzer]

As the owner of several four wheel drive vehicles including two jeeps I throughly enjoy watching your videos. Everything has its purpose. I'm not exactly sure why some people think it's their duty to tell everyone what to do. You are living the dream man, keep doing what you love.

[danieljackson-woods]

I do all of this in my crosstrek as well. If I wanted to do serious rock crawling or deep mud I might consider a jeep but for what I like to do my crosstrek works just fine.

[rogerward]

Let me see...

2020 Subaru Forester MSRP approximately $24, 500 up to $32, 000 for a Limited
2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport 2 door MSRP approximately $28, 300 up to $42, 300 for a Rubicon
Even with the addition of the lift, wheels and tires, and any additional skid plating, you're still likely coming out ahead.

For the average person that extra money gets you a vehicle that isn't as comfortable and gets worse fuel mileage, among other things. So, you spend more initially, then spend more along the way to get a vehicle that doesn't suit your daily needs as well, and is overbuilt for what you actually do when exploring/overlanding.

I've had three Jeeps and right now drive a Tundra (we've had several Subies in the family, and my next vehicle will likely be a Subaru). I think I can safely say that if you're off-roading warrants a Jeep, or if you just want one, buy one. We should be promoting and encouraging everyone who wants to get safely and appropriately into the backcountry, regardless of the vehicle they drive, so long as they understand its limitations. If you feel threatened by someone in a Subaru or other crossover, maybe it's your problem, not theirs.

[eagriggs]

The biggest reason I follow this channel is because of the Subaru. I think it's pretty cool to do what you do with it. If it works for what you want it to do why get something different?

[bertkelly]

I'm a Ram man, I joined for the adventure not to see jeeps everywhere. Refreshing to see something different "get it".

[Spritefound]

Hell no we don’t need a “ true 4x4” for exploring the majority of the back country roads. Me and my ‘12 Forester do just fine. Have fun with your subie on the trail.

[cworegon]

Nicely done video, you could sell that to Subaru for a promotional of its Offroad capability. I do own a Rubicon JKU and still like your videos LOL.

[KeithSurvell]

The best vehicle for driving off road like this is the one that'll get you where you want to go. If you get there, and better yet, if you have fun getting there, then that's all that matters!

[thevigpr]

I’m thinking of doing some soft overlanding. I own a Subaru Outback. From looking at videos on YouTube what I have learned is

1. Know the capability of your vehicle (you clearly defined that through this video)
2. Overlanding is about the destination and the art of enjoying the outdoors as you do it.
3. The current crossover / SUV that you have is sufficient to get started. As if your requirements don’t exceed the capability of the vehicle, why do you need something else.

I enjoy your videos thoroughly. We need more content on Subaru overlanding. Thanks for doing what you do!

[nxz]

When I am on the trails and see a “non-traditional” vehicle I’m always impressed....And excited! We even seem to talk about the sighting as a trip highlight after the fact! “Remember that Subaru we saw that time out in the middle of nowhere?! Yeah!, that was awesome!” I’ll see you out there bro!

[matthewjohnson]

As an avid Subaru guy that follows y.t. channels that have “off road” content -there’s almost always a Jeep or 4 runner person in the comment section. With their arms folded, sternly looking down: “you SHOULD NOT being going off-road with that vehicle!” I get there is a line or grey area of off-road difficulty...when a crossover starts going to far into the world off a true off-roader.. As a Subaru driver, you just have to know your limits..

[phredocassera]

I had a 1981 Subaru hatchback ... factory equipped with white wagon wheels, manually adjustable height suspension and a dual range 4x4 system wth a proper lever between the seats. Made skid plates and rear diff protector in my HS shop... gave all the Jeep and pickup crowd fits when the little bastard out climbed them on hills. Loved that thing..

[bruceyyyyy]

Oh man. I have my own version half filmed but might drop it because this illustrated the point just as well.

Yes a low range, frame, two solid axles, and a locker is more capable. But I don't need that to drive on a dirt road.

[erichnieuwoudt]

Great video, thanks for posting, I am a big Jeep fan and have done some fairly serious off roading in my day, but you are 100% correct, for what you need to do and where you need to go your Subaru is perfectly suited, and the fact that those roads actually pose some challenge makes it all the more fun! Keep doing what you are doing!

[kevinnorwood]

Keep your Subaru if it’s what you want then, who cares what anyone else has to say. I’ve seen Jeeps get stuck in places where Subaru’s just plow though. As sergeant slaughter pointed out Subaru’s have the best have the best all wheel drive system’s in the world. They are very reliable get more then decent gas mileage considering it’s all wheel drive, not to mention it’s your daily driver while Jeeps are great. I personally wouldn’t want one as a daily driver.

Keep the video’s coming!,

[MaxFlight]

Brilliant video. It's all about proper tires, properly deflated, sufficient ground clearance, the correct line, and most of all (in my opinion) proper throttle control.