SG forester budget build

[loweredexpectations4x4]

So! Finally getting around to this seasons list of upgrades to the forester. Have been accumulating parts and pieces for the forester, and with summer camping season approaching I finally got to work.
first thing was adding a winch bumper. Since the forester lacks a proper low range I thought it important to add a winch for piece of mind. Knowing that I can self recover is a huge boost to confidence.
The winch bumper is intended for a 04-11 ford ranger. It’s an Amazon special but seems to be reasonably well built. A bit weak for a ranger but I think just right for the fozy. I had to make some bracket adapters to make fit but after installation I’m really happy with the overall fit. I added a smittybuilt 9500lbs winch with synthetic winch line. Have already used it once to free the fozy from a rouge snow patch over Memorial Day weekend.

 

[loweredexpectations4x4]

Next up was a better roof rack system. Last year had a few pieces fall off the roof while strapped to the original roof rails. I wasn’t particularly thrilled at the selection of roof baskets specifically for the SG forester. It seems like all the nicer low profile racks cost about a grand or more. So using some 8020 aluminum extrusion and some compatible brackets intended for adding ladder racks to sprinter vans I created my own low profile roof rail. I find the factory roof rails just goofy looking because there so tall. I then ordered a roof basket from Amazon and beefed it up a bit by welding a few pieces that were intended to be bolted and added a few cross bars of my own to stiffen it up. This also gave me the perfect location to mount an awning. View attachment IMG_1041.jpeg

 

[loweredexpectations4x4]

The forester has always sagged pretty good when fully loaded with gear and this was not fixed by adding more roof storage/weight and the winch bumper. This was further compounded by the 150k miles on the factory struts. So a small suspension refresh and upgrade was needed. I already had a 3” spacer installed but was getting about 2” of overall lift. The rear struts were in pretty good condition but the fronts had had it. So I replaced the front struts with some KYB excell-g OE replacements and new strut mounts. I also replaced all four coils with King +.25” heavy duty coils. This fixed my sagging issue and helped with body roll since the sway bars were removed when I installed the original lift parts.

 

[loweredexpectations4x4]

I’ve gotten to take the forester out on some early season shake down runs. A couple easy weekend trips up the north coast and the Sierras. Everything worked really well! The awning works really well and the new suspension solved problems I didn’t even know were bothering me. View attachment IMG_1032.jpeg

 

[Wildcat-01]

Those King springs are a game changer. I'm currently running them with a 1" spacer lift. My DR swaybar link keeps ejecting nuts, so I think that when I overhaul my suspension this month, I'll probably just chuck the sway bars altogether.

How do you like it with the Kings and now sway bars? How are the road manners?

 

[loweredexpectations4x4]

Those King springs are a game changer. I'm currently running them with a 1" spacer lift. My DR swaybar link keeps ejecting nuts, so I think that when I overhaul my suspension this month, I'll probably just chuck the sway bars altogether.

How do you like it with the Kings and now sway bars? How are the road manners?

So fare I love them! It’s a little looser than it was stock. You can tell it’s got no sway bar. But it’s really manageable. It’s still not as bad as a stock XJ Cherokee. Lol

 

[Wildcat-01]

Those King springs are a game changer. I'm currently running them with a 1" spacer lift. My DR swaybar link keeps ejecting nuts, so I think that when I overhaul my suspension this month, I'll probably just chuck the sway bars altogether.

How do you like it with the Kings and now sway bars? How are the road manners?

So fare I love them! It’s a little looser than it was stock. You can tell it’s got no sway bar. But it’s really manageable. It’s still not as bad as a stock XJ Cherokee. Lol

Thanks.
All of my end links are hashed, so I might just toss 'em and try it, but keep the sway bars on in case I want them back on.

 

[attacktheculdesac]

This is awesome! Love a great Subaru platform with simple mods out there tackling the trails

 

[loweredexpectations4x4]

small update on the forester. mostly just gong over some small mods that i might have missed this year. its been a long one. lighting has been added front rear and sides. all amazon LEDs but are more than bright enough to comfortably navigate any dark trail. the hood lights are my favorite, i used ADF light brackets and some LED pods with side projecting LED to get a nice wide light that shines to just behind my front tires. had friend help me make a file to 3D print a switch panel that fits in the ashtray location in a way that allows me to close the cover to hide the switches. and to operate it all i installed a secondary fuse panel hidden under the air intake.

 

[Wildcat-01]

I like the radio cubby. Did you build your own sound system?

 

[loweredexpectations4x4]

during my trip to Death Valley last year i ran into a potentially dangerous problem where a road closure not listed by the NPS caused me to be dangerously low on fuel and having to re-route. the small 15gal fuel tank and being loaded down means that the range was fairly limited. so i needed some extra fuel capacity. i settled on two 2.5 gal "rotopax" style fuel containers to be mounted over the rear quarter glass. the bracket i used is meant for a 4th gen 4Runner. the windows are roughly the same size and shape. all said and done im not upset with the fit.

 

[loweredexpectations4x4]

I like the radio cubby. Did you build your own sound system?

I 3d printed the cubby to replace the radio when I installed the factory Japanese navigation trim that replaces the cubby on top of the dash so I can see my car play and maps.

 

[loweredexpectations4x4]

so Ive been working on a side project for the forester, or rather a companion project. a 2002 Colman Taos pop up tent to serve as a long distance base camp for longer road trips and reginal exploration. just got the last of the basic systems up and operational. so far ive just had to do small maintenance repairs as well as some upgrades. fixed the trailer lights and breaks, added a 300ah lipo battery and a 2000w inverter with solar/alternator charger. fixed the propane system and heater. and then performed an axel flip to gain some ground clearance. on the forester iv built a 2in receiver that replaces the factory rear bumper bar under the plastic facia to lift the hitch up away from the ground, added a 7pin trailer harness with break controller. just fished it enough to do our first test run. me and my husband went to explore the areas around mono lake and lucky us it was raining and snowing. so a good test for the whole set up. everything worked as anticipated! the fozy pulled it no problem over the mountains, a bit slow but it seems happy to pull the little trailer over any hill with the cruse set to 40 in second gear. off road it didnt seem to mind having it there at all, granted this trailer isnt going anywhere that isn't a green trail but its got the clearance for rocks and washes.