Wagonofdoom - 2015 Outback Overlander

grantwilson

Adventurist
This is to chronicle the build of the (what I venture anyways) first offroad oriented outback. Take it for what you will, but that’s what I am categorizing it in. It is meant to basically go anywhere a jeep/fj/4runner whatever will go, and be self sufficient. By the end of this there will be drawers for camping supplies, hot water pressurized shower, and a whole host of other things to make this an amazing "overlanding" vehicle.

First off, a little guide for you. All the images are hosted on my flickr. If I do some reorganizing and jazz, some images may disappear, just give me a heads up, and I will fix the links to make sure they show alright. Next, if you have any questions, concerns, elaborations, suggestions, feel free to interject. There is always another/better way to do it and I am open to the help. Eventually this will be an actual webpage (just gotta do it) with details, pictures, video etc etc. Chime in and lets make it fun!
So, why an outback? I have owned a decently built JK 4dr (2.5" lit, 33s, skids, onboard air, rock sliders etc etc etc) and loved offroading. It was quite fun. The ride sucked, MPG (ok, doesn’t really matter to me, but it may to others) really sucked iwth 33s not regeared and loaded down, and it was noisy, temperatures were weird inside because of the top and a host of other things. I wanted something better. When i was in Saudi Arabia, i had a chance to work on a friend's outback and take it out quite a bit. He wanted a fun desert camping car. I outfitted it with about 3" of lift, all adjustable control arms, some custom bits and bobs and it was awesome. It was a tank that went through anything. But not only that, it was comfy, quiet, and just worked. I wanted it. Fast forward to a year later, I am back in the USA. I make a line to the Subaru Dealer and test drive the forester and the outback. I settled on the outback, mainly because of ride quality and was on my merry way.

Running Tally of Parts and cost:
Car: 27,800
Yakima Load warrior rack[/URL] - 120.00 Craigslist
Yakima Load Warrior Extension[/URL] - 139.00 Amazon
Cooper Discoverer A/T3 245/65-17 5ea. - 850.00 Town Fair Tire (local shop price matched Discount Tire price)
Midland CB radio 1001z[/URL] - 41.18 Amazon
K30 mag antenna[/URL] - 26.62 Amazon
SWR Meter[/URL] - 15.95 Amazon
Jumper cable for WR Meter [/URL]- 12.95 Amazon
Torklift hitch[/URL] - 264.00 Torklift
Curt Wiring harness[/URL] - 25.50 - amazon
Masterbuilt HFTB HITCH-HAUL Folding Receiver Bar[/URL] - 25.00 Amazon (daily lightning deal)
Curt Manufacturing 31006 Spare Tire Mount[/URL] - 78.00 Amazon
3 bolts to mount wheel - 13.00 Lowes
Smittybilt 29312B Receiver Hitch D-Ring [/URL]- 30.98 Amazon
2 of Titan Wheel Accessories t150-545-545-12125-2 (2) 1.50" inch (38mm)[/URL] - 99.90 (4 total spacer) Amazon
2 of WARN 85340 0.875" - 1.125" Universal Swivel Light Mounts[/URL] - 26.49 x2 - Amazon
TMS® 2 X 18w 1260lm Cree Spot Led[/URL] - 52.00 Amazon (2 units)
StowAway Hitch Tightener[/URL] - 21.95 Amazon
Superwinch 1145230 Terra 45 4500lbs synthetic rope[/URL] - 301.99 Amazon
4 2015 Legacy wheels (one is currently spare, eventually will be main wheels) - 250.00 Craigslist
Anderson Design 2" Lift kit with subframe spacers - 550 (hes on facebook)
Front Skid Plate[/URL] 2013+ Outback
Add Oil Holes Extra $20, Thickness : 3/16" - $288.00 primitive
Add Fumoto Valve [/URL]$29.00
3/16" Rear Differential Cover [/URL]- $110.00 primitive
14mm Camber Bolts[/URL] - 1 $19.00 primitve
2015+ Outback/Legacy 3/16" Mid-Armor[/URL] - 1 $135.00 primitive
ARB 2000 awning[/URL] $258.30
FourTrex Mount[/URL] $93.10
Awning Room[/URL] $156.60
Trailhead deflators[/URL] $53.96
ARB tree strap[/URL] 10' $35.00
ARB snatch block 7000[/URL] $83.77
Black MaxTrax[/URL] $289.00
Mounting Pins for Maxtrax[/URL] $26.96
3/4" ARB Red Pin shackles[/URL] (Qty 3) $31.59
synthetic rope shackle[/URL] 26.00 - (all above from southeast overland. picking up items from an offroad event this weekend)
Steel for winch mount and other items - as of 5/12/15 $118.00
Wood for drawers and drawer slides, hardware - 120 - Lowes
Air Horns - 160 - amazon daily deal
Husky Floor mats[/URL] - 80.00 amazon
30" led bar[/URL] - 200 - side tracked offroad
frontrunner floorboard water tank and hose kit[/URL] - 200.00 - frontrunner
camp chef triton shower[/URL] - 126 - amazon
water filter[/URL] - 8.00 - amazon
water pump[/URL] - 58.00 - amazon


outback by Flsimages, on Flickr
It all started with tire. Everyone has to have tires right? Decided on a 245/65-17 Cooper A/T3 mainly because of all the crazy awesome reviews i read about them. Im happy with them
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
white letters out baby!
So what do you do when you get new tires? You go offroading. This was at about 900 miles i believe?
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
[video=youtube;xMlKVWUrR8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMlKVWUrR8[/video]
first project was to pull the bumper and core support, check if i can figure out how to mount a whinch
XT013017 by Flsimages, on Flickr
XT013037 by Flsimages, on Flickr
i figured it out. ill show you when i do it :)
So that actually brings us to today, current times
Stuff is starting to show up in the mail
rear recovery point:
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
Top is the stationary rear tire carrier, bottom is the unit i have to make work with it
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr

Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
wheel spacers!!!

I went ahead and put together the rear tire carrier. I started with what you saw above and got to work
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
cut off the part that would slide into the hitch
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
and make it nice and smooth
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
slide into the area the rear rack would normally go.
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
make some holes and throw it in
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
Ill be covering the pin in maybe a rubber hose to snug it up?
used a wheel spacer to set up the studs
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
bolted it down to position all the bolts in the slots
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
lay down some ugly welds (dont have gas yet :/)
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
and its done
waiting on my torklift hitch and i can put it on

- - - Updated - - -

teaser
rear with lift, front without
XT013069 by Flsimages, on Flickr

- - - Updated - - -

did a little work (im kinda skipping around. have to do a writeup on the lift)
Untitled by Flsimages, on Flickr
side facing lights for camping/trail
by Flsimages, on Flickr
using the Warn tube mounts (2 or under 25 bucks)
oh, what do we have here
by Flsimages, on Flickr

- - - Updated - - -

2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Flsimages, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Flsimages, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Flsimages, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Flsimages, on Flickr

- - - Updated - - -

i call first!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

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Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

- - - Updated - - -

hitch is installed. the rest of the welding on the winch mount is done, had to raise the hitch mount tire carrier to look right, welded that all up. i have a bunch of welded bare metal stuff. but whatever. i threw this car together in like a week and a half
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
 
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so i have a TON of video to go through. Onboard, from behind via trailing and ahead via lead car. give me time to sort and edit.


until then, here are a few pictures:)
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr


went through that puddle without even realizing it was as deep as it was
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr


2015 Subaru Outback Expo by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
moutned my matrax
 
Great looking build, thank you for the detailed parts and price list.

For the skids/armor you list "primitive", any more info on the source?

EDIT: Found it: http://get-primitive.com/
 
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I see a lot of your photos have the spare still on the roof. Were those just older photos? How is the trunk access having to flip down the carrier and does it wobble a lot?
 
:drool:drool:drool:drool:drool:drool
Ohhhh man...I need to get me one of those. This is what my Outback dreams about becoming when it grows up! With the Primitive skidplates, how did you find the fitment? Did everything go on smoothly without any major massaging?
 

Sorry you had to defend yourself so much in the comments. I really liked the video and seeing the car in action. I am curious what the modifications have done to yours and others gas mileage.
 
Great build. Question: How is your CVT when going from Reverse to Drive? I ask because on my 2015, when shifting from R to D there is what I consider a nasty lag between the two. I literally wait about one second before I get power and it bugs the shit out of me when I'm in a hurry. My 2012 Honda Civis CVT by comparison was "bang bang" between Reverse and Drive - instant power and throttle response.
 
:drool:drool:drool:drool:drool:drool
Ohhhh man...I need to get me one of those. This is what my Outback dreams about becoming when it grows up! With the Primitive skidplates, how did you find the fitment? Did everything go on smoothly without any major massaging?
SKidplates went on great. They get increasingly harder as I have to make them flat again however lol
Sorry you had to defend yourself so much in the comments. I really liked the video and seeing the car in action. I am curious what the modifications have done to yours and others gas mileage.
people don't understand not everything has to be balls to the wall. Look at the expedition overland guys. 3/4 of the south America trip was something my Subaru could do.

mods check out www.offroadsubaru.com ill post most of that stuff here also. I kinda put this site to the wayside due to the lack of participation/interest from members. If you guys are interested ill keep updating this along with the exp overland forum

Great build. Question: How is your CVT when going from Reverse to Drive? I ask because on my 2015, when shifting from R to D there is what I consider a nasty lag between the two. I literally wait about one second before I get power and it bugs the shit out of me when I'm in a hurry. My 2012 Honda Civis CVT by comparison was "bang bang" between Reverse and Drive - instant power and throttle response.
same lag. we all have it.
 
OK so. im going to group a bunch of updates in here for you guys
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
fit perfect. gotta cover hte drawer faces and done
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

led bar installed
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
drawers are done
they are just high enough to fit the harbor freight ammo boxes for stuff like stakes and batteries and such
the black part with the drawers closed, actually finishes covering the spare tire well and allows access to the tools and recovery gear that is stored there.

i DO need ot make one more set of dividers to hold hte ammo cans from sliding back, but other than that, im done

water tank is sitting there. ill wire it up tomorrow
by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
got a killer deal on a fridge so decided to get it. paid 300 for an edgestar fridge. Had to modify the drawers to fit it, but its all good. Built sliders and just have to set up the tie down and retention system

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
 
havent forgotten about you. went wheeling this weekend
ill get you more info the coming days
by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

(click that one, its a video on flickr)

some wear and tear
good control arm by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
good side
dented control arm by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
not so good side
Subaru Outback Switches by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
switches
Subaru Outback Packed up by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
all packed up
camping out by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
cooking some grub
polar opposites by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Subaru Outback by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Subaru Outback by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Subaru Outback by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Subaru Outback by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Subaru Outback by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

so new stuff. roof rack and bumper. need to get a few things for the rack, brackets for maxtrax, wire up lights, and then take it all apart to get powdercoated.
Taking Care of some Pretty finishing work before i get it powdercoated.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

welding every single edge of the expanded steel, then wire wheel, then flapper wheel. Since im powdercoating, should flow in well.

The devil is in the details i truly believe. Small things like this set it apart from off the shelf things.
 
holy crap what a weekend


Mid Atlantic Overland Fest by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
bent a trailing arm on an offcamber backing down and just sitting wrong. weight of the whole car went on the back right wheel. crush. was able to straighten it and get home
Mid Atlantic Overland Fest by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

overall it was a great weekend. good times and reat people at the MAOF
Mid Atlantic Overland Fest by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Mid Atlantic Overland Fest by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Mid Atlantic Overland Fest by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Mid Atlantic Overland Fest by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
star trail maof by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
so after i tacod a trailing arm, i ordered a new one. 40.00 with bushing
by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

not gonna ****ing taco again is it...
 
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