Best Lift Kit Options For Your Outback Wilderness
Whether you’re trying to turn your Wilderness Edition into a true off-road machine, or just want a couple extra inches to give you peace of mind on the trails, there’s some really good options for you.
Here’s our 6 top picks for the best Outback Wilderness lift kits:
- LP Aventure (Comprehensive 2 Inch Spacer Lift)
- Primitive Racing (Great Option For Towing And Camping)
- Anderson Design & Fabrication (Good Quality Mild Size Lift Made in The USA)
- Flatout Suspension Lift Coilovers (Great Long Travel Suspension Lift)
- Ironman 4×4 Suspension Lift (Affordable Strut/Spring Lift Option)
- RalliTek Spacer Kit (Great American Made Spacer Lift Kit)
Table of Contents
There are three ways to lift a Subaru: Lift Springs, Strut Spacers, and Upgraded Suspension Assemblies.
Lift springs
are stiffer and taller than the stock springs that came on your vehicle. You’ll have to swap out the factory springs with the new kit. They are really good for anyone who plans to load extra gear into the car. They also help stabilize the car’s handling ability even with a higher center of gravity after lifting. The main complaint with a stiffer spring is that they can be a little more bumpy on harsh roads.
Strut spacer kits
are usually less expensive and easier to install than a spring lift. You bolt them to the top of the strut towers and they push your entire shock absorber down to add lift. The main issue with using only a strut spacer is that they don’t create additional suspension travel or offer a performance spring rate. So you may experience “butt sag” when loaded up with camping gear or off-road recovery gear. Here are some of the most important things to look for when selecting a good strut spacer kit: camber correction, multi-link/subframe spacers, customer service (reputation) and quality workmanship.
Some kits actually offer both springs and spacers. For example, Primitive Racing kits incorporate both forms of lift to provide correct suspension geometry and proper off-road capability.
Longer suspension assemblies
(longer struts, or long travel coilovers) are a great way to lift a Subaru. However, they are extremely expensive and can be inconvenient if one of them ever needs replacing. Long travel coilovers usually start at $1600 and will require special order if they ever need to be replaced. This will cause at least a week of downtime in most cases. We typically only recommend this option to people who truly plan to abuse the vehicle. If you are planning to casually drive your Subaru through the forest, this might be overkill for you. But if it fits within your budget, it allows for a lot of fine tuning capability. We also suggest this option to anyone who already has worn out shocks and is planning to replace them anyway. In this case, you may actually save money. If your current struts are in good condition though, this might not be the most practical choice.
Before we go any further, I’d like to offer one specific piece of advice. If you find a kit that’s below $300, research the brand before buying. It’s not uncommon for people to be enticed by the $200 price tag on some of the kits sold on eBay only to find that the build quality is low and they can’t get in touch with their customer service if there’s an issue. My rule of thumb is that if it’s well below $300 and the company is based outside of the country you’re in, be cautious. Call the company ahead of time and ask questions about their kit. If they’re hard to contact or not helpful, I would move onto someone else. I say this not because I don’t want you to save money. But because I want you to get the best bang for your buck.
LP Aventure is a company based in Canada that has years of authority in the off-road and over-landing industry. They pride themselves on NHTSA and FMVSS126 motor vehicle safety standards, meaning that their kits allow your Outback to retain full factory safety features while providing extra all terrain capabilities.
Highlights:
- Kits arrive with everything needed to lift your Outback Wilderness 2″ inches without changing ride quality
- Spacers are designed with 304 stainless steel and are TIG welded. They are tough, durable and resistant to corrosion. (Make sure to spend a little extra on the powder coated kit unless you want to paint them yourself)
- Maintains original camber specs
- Includes multi link spacers for rear tire alignment
- Lengthened brake lines spacers
- Longer exhaust spacers included
- Hand brake spacers
- Installation instructions conveniently located on their site for DIY’ers.
The LP Aventure Outback lift kits are a little more expensive than some spacer options, but they have a great reputation, are well designed, and contain a comprehensive parts list to make sure you have everything you need! If you want to order a kit and have it installed with no headaches, this is the right kit for you.
Primitive Racing is a high quality and well regarded brand in the Subaru community, specializing in off-road accessories and performance parts. They have carved a niche for themselves in the rally and “softroading” scenes, catering to the needs of off-road enthusiasts with their wide range of product offerings. When it comes to ruggedness, durability, and innovative designs that prepare your vehicle to handle challenging terrains, Primitive Racing is one of the top options for our cars.
Primitive Racing’s lift kits are designed with precision and subjected to rigorous testing to ensure optimal suspension geometry, improved handling, and enhanced off-road capabilities. Whether you’re conquering rocky trails or maneuvering through mud, Primitive lift kits are highly regarded for their reliability and ability to withstand the demands of extreme off-road adventures. Primitive is located in the state of Oregon and we have purchased a wide range of parts from them with exceptional customer service experiences.
If you are planning to tow anything or have a large collection of gear that may weigh down your vehicle, this is the kit for you. The upgraded springs will help offset the extra weight of things like camping gear and heavy rooftop tents.
The Primitive team designs their kits to withstand the taxing demands of full on stage rally. Rest assured that if you install a Primitive kit, it won’t fall apart.
Highlights:
- Lift Height: Provides a 1.25″ increase in ground clearance to easily accommodate a 245/65R17 tire
- Compatibility: Specifically designed for the 2022-2024 Outback Wilderness model
- High-Quality Construction: Crafted with superior materials for durability and longevity
- Optimal Suspension Geometry: Designed to maintain proper suspension alignment for factory-like handling
- Rigorously Tested: Subjected to rigorous testing to ensure reliability and performance
- Easy Installation: Designed for straightforward installation with comprehensive instructions provided
- Customer Satisfaction: Primitive Racing has always taken great care of us and offered fantastic product support.
We really appreciate the research and development that ADF puts into their products. They’re always one of the first companies to offer a lift kit when a new model comes out. In fact, the owner Patrick Anderson actually purchased a 2022 Outback Wilderness personally in order to begin doing hands-on research with it.
As far as strut top spacers go, ADF offers multiple options. However, their 1.5 inch lift is basic enough for the average DIY’er to do at home, but offers enough room to accommodate a 245/65/17 tire easily.
This kit also offers camber correction with its offset design and is properly constructed using high-quality materials. Their kits are build right here in the USA in the beautiful state of Oregon.
If you’re not 100% sure where to start or what lift will best meet your needs, we recommend calling ADF. They’ve always been really helpful any time we’ve had a technical question. We’ve used their kits and have had great results.
Need more than 1.5 inches? ADF offers a wide range of lift kit sizes for the Outback Wilderness that are available on their website.
Highlights:
- 1.5 inches of lift up front and 1 inch in the rear
- Usually available for under $300
- 3/16″ steel plates used for construction
- Professionally powdercoated steel
- HDPE rear spacers
- Requires no extensive modification or expensive parts
- Works on all new model Outback trim levels including the Wilderness
If you have a taste for the finer things in life and prefer to install only the most premium equipment on your off-road builds, going with a long-travel coilover lift is the right choice for you.
Rather than just spacing your current suspension down, this kit extends the actual length of your shocks. This means less wheel lift on the trails and more traction.
If you have the funds and plan to really test your Outback on the trails, the Flatout Suspension GR Lite is a great option. It’s the first long-travel coilover system that has been offered to the Subaru community at an affordable price with good post-sale support.
These coilovers can be rebuilt after they’ve been used and abused on the trails. This means you’re not going to be stuck having to buy an entirely new setup once you finally wear them out.
We’ve heard nothing but good things about the support from the team over at Flatout. We definitely recommend checking them out if you want to lift your Outback.
If you’d like to see an Outback 3.6R that was basically converted into a Wilderness Edition using Flatout coilovers, check out Ryan’s Outback build. He has had great luck with this suspension setup.
Highlights:
- Fully adjustable up to 3″ over stock height (remember to purchase multi link/subframe spacers to keep your rear wheels aligned properly)
- Provides 8 full inches of travel in the front and rear
- Hand Assembled
- Fully Serviceable
- Highly Polished Electro-Plated Nickel Cartridge
- CNC Machined High-flow Aluminum Piston
- Stainless Steel Shims
- Light Weight Synthetic Shock Oil
Ironman 4x4 Strut/Spring Lift Kit
Photo: Property of Ironman 4×4
If you want a true suspension lift but don’t quite have the funds to justify a fully adjustable coilover system, Ironman 4×4 has a fantastic option that’s ready to go out of the box. At about $1400 you can’t beat a fully assembled 2 inch lift strut/spring combo.
In the past, some companies have offered aftermarket struts that were straight up junk. So we’ve always been hesitant to recommend anything new that doesn’t have a long history of durability. At first we weren’t sure if this was going to be the case with this lift kit. However, it’s been on the market for awhile now and we’ve heard a good deal of feedback from a wide range of people who’ve had great luck with them. We’re confident that they are a great full suspension lift for the price.
We really like that Ironman offers an overload option for those who are planning to carry extra camping gear, recovery equipment, kids, or even a full size spare tire on a heavy rear bumper kit. Their Spec-C option will help combat saggy butt and give you the ability to carry gear and tow without clobbering your suspension. Best of all, this is available at no extra charge.
Highlights:
- 2 inches of lift
- Extended travel twin-tube struts improve control and comfort
- Subframe spacers are INCLUDED!
- 3 year warranty
- Estimated Ground Clearance: 10.7″
- Works on all new model Outback trim levels including the Wilderness
RalliTek is an Oregon Based rally/performance shop that’s been on the forefront of creating cutting edge parts for all Subaru models for over two decades. As partners with one of the most well-known Subaru tuning shops, PRE, they have a heavy presence and knowledge base in all areas of Subaru culture.
This authority and knowledge base has carried over into their off-road presence. They provide solid parts that they have tested extensively. If you live in Oregon, you may run into them at Brown’s camp doing big boy trails in their test vehicles.
From RalliTek:
Our complete bolt-on spacer lift kit can be easily installed on OEM struts and springs or lifted springs for a desired lift height. Each coil spring spacer kit features front and rear strut spacers, laser cut for a precise fit, and powder coated hammer blue to resist the elements. In addition to being easy to install, RalliTEK strut spacer kits omit the need for dangerous strut disassembly. RalliTEK lift kits are engineered and manufactured in the USA and are backed by a lifetime warranty.
Highlights:
- Lift height: 2”
- Built-in caster and camber correction
- Retains factory alignment specifications
- Retains factory suspension geometry
- 3/16” MIG Welded Steel Construction
- Hammered Blue Powder Coat
- Bolt-on design, no drilling or cutting required
- Increased ground clearance
- Ability to fit larger off-road tires
- Manufactured in the USA
- Lifetime warranty
- All Hardware Included
In conclusion, selecting a lift kit for your Subaru Outback Wilderness is an exciting step towards unlocking more adventurous possibilities with your vehicle. Whether you choose Primitive Racing’s 1.25″ Lift Kit, the LP Aventure Kit, or even explore other options, the key is to find a kit that suits your specific needs and preferences. Lift kits provide that extra boost in ground clearance, empowering you to tackle rugged terrains with peace of mind.
By investing in a lift kit, you’re embracing the spirit of adventure and customization, tailoring your Subaru Outback Wilderness to suit your individual style and driving needs. The journey of modifying your vehicle can be both challenging and rewarding, as you build up its capabilities and see more of the world. Good luck as you embark on this exciting endeavor, and may your Subaru Outback become the perfect companion for countless memorable adventures to come!
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