[GeoJosh]

Well, I have finally started doing some modifications, which means I get to start a journal!

Thank you for looking and following along. Feel free to ask any questions!

First things done when I purchased were:

Iowa State front license plate

Tinted front windows and moonroof

Took a couple months, but now I have started making some light off-roading mods:

Smittybilt D-ring recovery point, only in place when needed.

Daystar rubber D-ring isolator, to prevent damage to paint.

Rokblokz mudflaps with grey stickers

I also have some 225/55R18 Yokohoma Geolandar A-T/S tires on the way, along with a full-size spare tire. I will post pictures once they are mounted, hopefully in a few days.

Edit: New tires installed and full size-spare added to replace the donut. Update here!

Edit: Offroading update added here.

Edit: Hail damage on hood and roof. Update found here.

Edit: Primitive Racing triple armor kit installed here!

Edit: Offroading - Round 2: Here!

Edit: OKSubies Talimena Cruise: Here!

Edit: Offroading - round 3: Here!

Edit: Hail damage, again: Here!

Rally Innovations bar and RamboWill LED bar installed Here!

Edit: Offroading - round 4: Here!

Edit: Offroading - round 5: Here!

Edit: Lift kit and new wheels and tires installed Here!

Edit: Sundog Trails Offroading - June 2016 Here!

Edit: Sundog Trails Offroading - March 2017 Here!

 

[CinderBlock]

Nice start. I always wondered why you didn't have one or when you would start one... Ta-Da!

 

[GeoJosh]

Thanks!

I waited until now because I had only done the front plate and window tint until today. :biggrin:

Also worth noting I got a 3" x 30' Smittybilt recovery strap (30,000 lb capacity) and a portable air compressor for my full-size spare tire.

 

[marmonduke]

Looks really nice...except the Iowa State tag (sorry I'm a KU fan). Good basketball game last night

 

[carfanatic]

Nice tints. What percent tints did you go with? They look like they match the factory tints on the rear.

 

[GeoJosh]

Looks really nice...except the Iowa State tag (sorry I'm a KU fan). Good basketball game last night

Thanks! Sadly I couldn't watch the game last night as I don't have ESPN U, but it sounded fairly competitive. We have been struggling lately after our 14-0 start. Hopefully we get to have a rematch in primetime during march madness!

Nice tints. What percent tints did you go with? They look like they match the factory tints on the rear.

I am not exactly sure what the tint % is. I just went to a local shop (Alta Mere in OKC) and asked them to match the factory tint. I believe it might be as low as 17%, but some others have said 30% is a good match, so I don't know exactly.

 

[carfanatic]

I am not exactly sure what the tint % is. I just went to a local shop (Alta Mere in OKC) and asked them to match the factory tint. I believe it might be as low as 17%, but some others have said 30% is a good match, so I don't know exactly.

Thanks for the info. Guess I'll have to skip this mod :icon_frown: Tints on front windows are illegal in NJ. I've gotten away with 50% tints but did that on my cars that didn't come with factory tints.

Anyway, they look great and match the tints on the rear.

 

[High_Desert_Silver]

Subscribed. I'm excited to see a new XT get trail ready!


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

[sway162]

Nice start man! So did you confirm that a full size spare will fit?

 

[GeoJosh]

Nice start man! So did you confirm that a full size spare will fit?

It will fit, use of the storage compartment/tray may be compromised. I do not have the tires yet, but I am hoping that by partially deflating the spare will allow me to still use the tray while keeping the spare under the floor.

I will post updates with details on all that when I get the tires... possibly tomorrow, maybe not until next week.

 

[Machine1]

Yay you started a journal! Subscribed.

 

[snowjoe11]

what size D-ring is that?

 

[GeoJosh]

what size D-ring is that?

3/4" Smittybilt

 

[GeoJosh]

Tires!

Got my new tires installed today.

Geolandar A/T-S in 225/55/R18, which is the stock XT size. I went with the stock size and stayed with the stock rims because I like how they look. Also wanted to save some money where I could.

Also purchased a 225/60/R17 tire and a 17" rim to have a full-size spare.

Wanted an AT tire for my off-road adventures along with my daily commute to the oilfields. When it gets wet and muddy, these tires will fair much better than the highway tires I had stock. The old tires also made me slightly uncomfortable in the rain, even got squirmy braking on the highway because of the lack of grip.

I will update again after I get some more time on the tires and wash it up later this week.


Untitled by jasplund91, on Flickr


DSCN2324-2 by jasplund91, on Flickr


DSCN2323-1 by jasplund91, on Flickr


DSCN2325-3 by jasplund91, on Flickr


DSCN2326-4 by jasplund91, on Flickr

Old vs. New

Untitled by jasplund91, on Flickr

Spare comparison (donut vs full-size)

Untitled by jasplund91, on Flickr


Untitled by jasplund91, on Flickr

 

[GeoJosh]

Partially deflated my spare tire to get it to fit in the rear compartment.

Replaced the donut spare with a 225/60/R17 Yokohoma Geolandar A/T-S.

I used this rim: Wheel Details - Discount Tire

Here is the fitment in the spare tire compartment.

I packed an air compressor, tow strap (3"x30', 30k pound rating), original jack, D-Ring/clevis on the left. There is also a bag with ratchet straps in it (Subaru bag at top)

I had to deflate the spare tire to get the back floor to fit level. This is why I carry the portable air compressor.

Note: The foam tray that was on top of the donut does not fit.


DSCN2339 by jasplund91, on Flickr


DSCN2341 by jasplund91, on Flickr

Rear floor fits flat

DSCN2342 by jasplund91, on Flickr

Test fitting the spare tire on the


DSCN2334 by jasplund91, on Flickr


DSCN2332 by jasplund91, on Flickr

Stock tire size/rim on left, spare tire installed on car on right. Very close in size, which is perfect!

DSCN2337 by jasplund91, on Flickr

 

[CinderBlock]

What portable air compressor you get? And how you like it? I had a cheap one, and it wasn't even worth the amount I paid for it.

 

[sway162]

Wow, so much better with a full size spare. Thanks for posting the details with pics. I gotta add this to my to-do list.

 

[lcrazyaznl]

Thanks for the pics about the full spare!

 

[GeoJosh]

What portable air compressor you get? And how you like it? I had a cheap one, and it wasn't even worth the amount I paid for it.

Amazon.com: Viair 00073 70P Heavy Duty Portable Compressor: Automotive

Viair Heavy Duty. I have only tested it out, but it seems to work well. Fairly quiet for its compact size.

Rated up to 100 psi, so it should work well. :icon_biggrin:

Wow, so much better with a full size spare. Thanks for posting the details with pics. I gotta add this to my to-do list.

No problem. I am glad it fit... was starting to worry it would not after sticking it in without deflating.

After deflating the tire quite a bit, it fit perfectly. Even got the screw in to secure it to the floor.

 

[GeoJosh]

Thanks for the pics about the full spare!

Glad I could help.

I noticed there were no good pictures in the spare tire thread (http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f151/2014-forester-full-size-spare-175481/index3.html) so I made sure to take some when I was doing this today. Posted there too so people can see that when they search for this topic.