He switched from a Toyota 4x4 to a lifted Subaru. Here's Why.

By Ben Boxer

I really enjoyed interviewing Chris about his Forester build. I appreciated the way everything has a purpose behind it. If you want to watch/listen to our entire conversation, you can find it HERE on Youtube. The DirtSubies podcast is also available on Spotify and any other podcast platform.

Chris knew this Forester was the right car the day he laid the seats down at the dealership. Being able to sleep inside the car with his girlfriend, and dog was non-negotiable. Space-savings quickly became the biggest focus of his modification process. As a result, this moved a lot of “cool” parts into the “don’t need it” category and kept the build aligned with real use, not Instagram. From that point forward, it’s usability first: stuff that helps him get out there, set up quickly, rest comfortably, and roll again the next morning without much hassle.

Quick Build List:

Wheels & Tire Selection For The Forester

For wheels, Chris is running LP Aventure LP1s because they’re proven, available in the right fitments, and the Marketplace deal he found was hard to beat. The tires are BFG KO2s and they’ve been a steady performer for him across platforms. He’s tried other A/Ts, saw more flats in his own experience, and moved back to KO2s. It’s not a lab test; it’s his lived experience. His approach is less “brand war” and more picking the tire you can trust, carrying a repair kit, and keeping air handy so you can get home.

The Roof, Done Right: Structure, Accessories, and Real Capacity

Chris cares less about brand names than how a rack actually mounts. At the time of our recording, he had a Prinsu rack but was gravitating to Sherpa Equipment Co. because their design supports run into the crossbars and they offer dedicated mounts for the exact gear he uses. That reduces janky brackets and spreads load where it belongs. Within a month of us talking, Sherpa actually set him up with a free roof rack system.

With a rack that’s built for work, the accessory list gets simple:

  • Lighting that’s useful off the trail, not just on it. He runs rock lights on each side of the rack and wires them to a switch panel so camp setup isn’t a headlamp circus.

  • Real recovery boards (MAXTRAX) because he’s seen knockoffs snap; when you’re buried or helping a stranger, that’s not the moment to gamble.

  • ROAM Rugged Case on top because it locks down cleanly and contains the awkward stuff like straps, tools, spares so the cabin stays livable.

An unexpected bonus he’s noticed: with a fairing and tidy load, the MPG hit hasn’t been dramatic. This really surprised me because I often find that rooftop accessories create a lot of extra drag.

Self-Sufficiency: Air, Tools, and the “Help Yourself (and Others)” Kit

He builds for independence. A portable compressor rides shotgun in the kit so he’s not stuck at 18 PSI all the way home or calling in favors when someone else loses a sidewall. He keeps plugs and patches to get rolling again, and he’s deliberate about battery use. He pulls lug nuts by hand so the impact has juice when it counts. Add soft shackles, a recovery rope, and a real tool roll and he can usually fix, patch, or at least limp out without turning a fun day into a tow bill.

The Maintenance Mindset That Saves Weekends

During our conversation, Chris shared a simple rule: “take care of the car and it’ll take care of you.” That looks like quick under-car peeks for grease slung off a CV boot, a weeping shock, or a loose nut before they become day-enders. Subarus are daily drivers first; some bits are light-duty compared to trucks, so a little prevention goes a long way. He’s comfortable turning wrenches and will try almost any repair once; both to save money and to learn the platform.

Chris is a firefighter. He has been in the fire service about 10 years. It started after initially moving to Colorado, and he spent five seasons doing wildland firefighting with the Forest Service. In the off-seasons he worked in hospital operating rooms as a perioperative services assistant. He has also deployed to fires in Oregon. He describes wildland as his first hard physical labor job and says the work shaped how he plans, packs, and problem-solves on the trail.

I really appreciate how his attention to detail from his professional life has carried over to the Forester build. His thought processes made an impact on the way I will modify and accessorize my vehicles moving forward.

Check out some of these photos of Chris on the job as a firefighter.

 
 

After sitting down with Chris, what stood out to me was how closely his build matches the way he works. It is simple, functional, and ready to go at all times. The lift is a practical spacer and spring setup, the LP1s with KO2s are a proven daily plus trail combo, and his rack is set up for real use with lighting, boards, and a compressor so the trip never stalls.

What I appreciated most is that he carries tools and repair gear not just for himself but to help others. That fits the way he thinks on the job and on the trails. My takeaway from the interview is this: keep it functional, inspect the small stuff before it becomes big stuff, and choose parts that actually make the car easier to live with.