I recently interviewed Sam (@thatwanderingfozzy) about his Forester that he built for camping and Northeast trail duty. He’s outfitted it with front and back offroad bumpers, a lift kit paired with upgraded suspension, and practical camping systems (drawers and a clamshell rooftop tent). Daily driver duties are handled by a separate Crosstrek that he recently purchased while the Forester remains as the adventure rig. If you’d like to check out our full conversation on the DirtSubies Podcast, you can find it on our Youtube channel or any podcast platform.
Table of Contents
Mod List
- Full Force Metalworks front bumper
- Full Force Metalworks rear bumper with swing out and high mount spare bracket
- FFM rock sliders
- Anderson Design and Fabrication two inch lift with rear multi link spacers
- Bilstein B6 struts
- RalliTEK standard height springs
- Falken Wildpeak AT4W all terrain tires in 235/75R15
- Method MR502 wheels in 15×7
- Diode Dynamics SS3 pods on ADF hood mounts
- Diode Dynamics interior and exterior LED bulb set
- Tail as turn module plus reverse light add on for four reverse lights
- Nameless Performance exhaust
- CVT clamshell rooftop tent on crossbars
- DIY drawer system with locking slides
- Dometic fridge
- Hitch step for roof access
Functional Body Armor
I really appreciated how Sam approached armor. He went with custom Full Force Metalworks front and rear bumpers, and paired them with rocksliders. The front bumper gives him recovery points without turning the front of the car into a boat anchor. One practical note is the windshield washer reservoir relocation that became necessary with the front bumper. This is the kind of detail that many people are curious about, and it is nice to have a confirmed answer from someone who has done it on an SJ.
The rear setup also deserves to be showcased. The spare tire sits high above the rear bumper which preserves departure. I also like his simple roof access routine that uses the hitch step and bumper to access the tent for setup. The rear bumper weight came in under seventy pounds without the spare, which is respectable for an offroad bumper.
“The bumper is under 70 pounds without the rear tire.”
Suspension & Lift
Sam chose a proven recipe that I have recommended to a lot of Subaru owners. The kit is an Anderson Design and Fabrication two inch lift with rear multi link spacers, Bilstein B6 struts, and RalliTEK standard height springs. Geometry correction in the rear is important at this height and the B6s add control without going to a full coilover system. The springs give a small bump in spring rate so the car can carry drawers and a tent without sagging.
Ride and alignment thoughts from my perspective: This combo aligns well, keeps CV angles sustainable, and allows for a planted feeling on highway stretches between trails. It is a pick that balances capability with long term serviceability since replacement parts are easy to source.
“A two inch with the multi link spacers in the rear. Then I got the B6s and the standard height springs.”
Exhaust System
Sam runs a Nameless Performance exhaust system. It adds some tone without making the Forester “drone-ey” on the road. If you wheel on harder trails, keep an eye on tip position and hanger condition since exhaust tips are often the first sacrificial part on a lifted Subaru. Tucking the tip a little and refreshing the rubber hangers goes a long way to keeping your new exhaust in good shape.
Lighting Setup
I am a fan of lighting that solves practical problems instead of turning the cabin into a switch farm. Sam’s setup is tidy and effective. He runs Diode Dynamics SS3 pods on ADF hood mounts, a full set of DD lights inside and out, and a tail as turn plus reverse add on that gives him four reverse lights. That last part is a huge quality of life upgrade when you are backing through trees after dark.
Wheels & Tires
Tires make or break a Subaru on dirt. Sam runs Falken Wildpeak AT4W and I like that choice for the Northeast where wet pavement and mixed conditions matter. He did not chase the absolute largest size which helps preserve clearance and drivetrain life.
He chose the Method MR502 wheels which I think are a very good option. They may seem “played out” since so many people use them. But they’re popular for a reason: they’re awesome wheels for the price.
I think Sam also made a great choice with the AT4W. It’s a proven offroad tire that fits in almost any budget and still provides a strong sidewall. Not to mention the fantastic compound that performs well on a wide range of surfaces.
“You ain’t going anywhere without some good tires.”
Camping Setup
This is where Sam’s build shows its utility. The roof setup is a clamshell rooftop tent on crossbars and the cargo area holds a DIY drawer system built from salvaged wood. Slides were upgraded to locking units to control rattles and to keep drawers from walking out on side hills. The hitch step doubles as the first rung of a safe ladder line for kids. A small Dometic fridge sits in the back and helps keep perishable foods fresh on camping trips.
I also like the way he navigated the storage journey to determine exactly what his needs were. He ran simple bins at first then moved to drawers once he knew what needed a dedicated spot. That is exactly how I suggest people approach storage so money only goes toward solutions that serve a purpose long-term.
Practical Aspects Of the Build
The rear mounted spare keeps the tire out of the way when dropping off ledges and it opens cleanly during camping trips. The sliders paid for themselves the first time they absorbed a rock hit. The drawer system adds a ton of utility for keeping vital items organized at all times. The Bilstein and spring combination helps handle that weight so on-road manners remain untouched.
A few reminders I noted for myself during our conversation:
- Northeast rust makes installs take longer. Pre soaking hardware and keeping taps and dies handy are key for anyone living in a region that salts the roads.
- Having a convenient spare tire storage solution makes everything so much easier and ensures that you’ll always have a backup.
- Locking drawer slides are worth every penny compared to non locking versions in a camping build.
Trail Stories & Basic Takeaways
Sam does not run a permanently mounted winch, which might seem like a bad idea. But his wheeling buddies have winches and they have pulled him out whenever he’s needed it. For solo trips on challenging trails, it may be wise to add a front winch.
Sam’s robust lighting proved useful the first time he had to back down a trail providing enough light to see. And yes, an exhaust tip will eventually find a rock which is another reason to have an exhaust shop tuck the tips and check hangers if you plan on hitting difficult trails.
Short list of additional mods that someone could add to their SJ Forester build for even more capability & protection on solo wheeling trips:
• Skid plates for the engine, and transmission.
• A winch mount and 5000-5500lb winch.
Years ago Sam was in a spot wheeling and the trail narrowed down between two trees with a rock on the driver side. Both mirrors were folded because the trails was super narrow. Despite not having a spotter, Sam committed to the squeeze. As the car eased forward the body leaned, and the driver door met the tree hard enough to cave the skin.
To fix the damage, he used a pry bar to push the door skin back out. Even though it doesn’t look pretty, the door still functions perfectly fine. I really like that he didn’t replace the damaged doors. I have a soft spot for trail damage on lifted Subarus.
Daily Driving vs Trails
I like the way Sam keeps the Forester as the adventure rig and leaves commuting to the Crosstrek. That choice avoids constantly transferring gear from one car to the other and lets the SJ stay equipped for what it actually does. If you only own one vehicle you can still outfit it for trail days. But it’s so convenient to have one car that’s ready to go at all times.
This also allows for a person to enjoy their trails days a bit more. I know that even in my case, I feel like I can drive my cars harder on the trails knowing that I still have a car safely at home that can get me around town.
I really enjoyed this conversation with Sam and the fact that he laid out so many details of his build. His Forester shows that a Subaru can stay simple, reliable, and ready for real trails if you pick the right pieces and install them correctly. If you are starting from stock, following a similar build list should land you in a car that’s able to handle some solid offroad trails.
Be sure to follow @thatwanderingfozzy and check out the DirtSubies podcast on Youtube or wherever you listen to podcasts!
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