Subaru vs Midsize Truck for mountain roads

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Jul 4, 2018
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Hey folks,

Y’all are the authority on mountain hunting so I thought I’d ask this question here. Made a mistake a couple years ago of buying a 2018 F150 with a 5.0 that has been an utter PITA since I bought it. Recently the ford dealer used the warranty and communicated that I would be getting a new engine, but apparently they only put in a VCT and some other single use parts. The truck still gives me pause as the engine has a small rattle. I have this warranty for another 8,000 miles and I think I want to get rid of the truck prior to that expiring. That being said, I have been looking into Tacomas primarily knowing the reliability of them. However, they are pretty expensive for a PhD student. I have the ability to do it if I find the right one, but I have quite a few friends that are hunting out of Subaru Outbacks that are relatively cheaper. For context, I have one particular spot where I hunt that has a horrible road and last week I drug and bent my running boards on the truck going up the road (stock height, 255 70 17 tires). I don’t have access to any UTV or ATVs so this vehicle will be my primary hunting rig and I am currently in MT so snow is always in the cards. Given all those requirements/context elements, do you all have any opinions on this? Say a Tacoma vs a Subaru vs a Ranger or Colorado sized truck. I think I’m pretty set on going down in size after driving a rental around for a while. Thanks for any recommendations!!
 
I have a truck and a Subaru. I almost always use the Subaru unless clearance is going to be an issue or I need the bed space (elk hunting). This includes off-road as well as driving to ski on snowy mountain roads.

I have just a stock Crosstrek with all-terrain tires, but I'm sure a wilderness edition Outback or Forester would be even more capable.
 
Subarus AWD is better than pretty much anything out there as far as traction. Ground clearance in a Subaru would be more of a concern. If you get a Tacoma, you'll still need to find a truck when you want to do truck things.
All the truck things that I do would be easily handled with a Tacoma with the extenuating circumstance of moving out of Missoula whenever/if that occurs. So I’m not too concerned about that.
 
I have a truck and a Subaru. I almost always use the Subaru unless clearance is going to be an issue or I need the bed space (elk hunting). This includes off-road as well as driving to ski on snowy mountain roads.

I have just a stock Crosstrek with all-terrain tires, but I'm sure a wilderness edition Outback or Forester would be even more capable.
Alright, my brother’s cross trek has more clearance than my dad’s UTV so that is cool honestly. Plus it could be lifted if I was worried. Sounds like he has had a good experience with that car.
 
Alright, my brother’s cross trek has more clearance than my dad’s UTV so that is cool honestly. Plus it could be lifted if I was worried. Sounds like he has had a good experience with that car.
Exactly, pretty easy to find 2" lift kits for Crosstreks
 
https://rallitek.com

These boys are what you want! If you order struts with springs and a lift, and they’ll put them together for you.

General recommendation is to not go above a 2” total lift. Their struts/springs add about .5”, so look for the 1.5” lift kit.

And hey neighbor
 
If it’s for anything off road (or “jeep trails”) then I would personally only take a real 4wd with high and low gears.

If you don’t go there, then AWD will be ok 99% of the time.
 
If it’s for anything off road (or “jeep trails”) then I would personally only take a real 4wd with high and low gears.

If you don’t go there, then AWD will be ok 99% of the time.
Yeah at this point I only have a single spot where I would feel sketched out taking a Subaru and I could climb into it from the bottom if needed or just go with a buddy. I’m trying to weigh it fairly in my mind given my financial situation and how much gas money I’d likely save by going to the Subaru vs a Tacoma.
 
I have buddies who have killed elk while in their outbacks so I know it is possible, but I’ve had a full size truck since 2018. Seems natural to go down in size to a midsize truck but a bit odd to the subie.
 
I’m seriously looking at a toy rav4 as a backup for my full sized tundra. Colo has been the Subaru capitol of the world but I’m starting to see more RAV4s in Colo compared to Subarus. If you want $ bills buy a Subaru. If you want dependability but a toy!
 
I got an outback wilderness last year and it handled things better than my '05 Ram. As said above, the only caveat is ground clearance. I was on a narrow rocky trail in my '16 Duramax this week and parked at the first pullout to grab a ride with others. If I'd have been in the OBW, I added sliders and drivetrain skids, I would have been fine.

A ZR2 Duramax Colorado would be the only thing I would choose over the OBW for my small truck.
 
I got an outback wilderness last year and it handled things better than my '05 Ram. As said above, the only caveat is ground clearance. I was on a narrow rocky trail in my '16 Duramax this week and parked at the first pullout to grab a ride with others. If I'd have been in the OBW, I added sliders and drivetrain skids, I would have been fine.

A ZR2 Duramax Colorado would be the only thing I would choose over the OBW for my small truck.
Do you feel as though the wilderness is worth the extra money? I found a used one that seems to be a pretty good deal.
 
Do you feel as though the wilderness is worth the extra money? I found a used one that seems to be a pretty good deal.
Im not sure, I didn't look at the other versions.

Turbo = yes
I think a turbo comes with at least one other trim

X-mode = yes
Same comment as above

Full size spare = yes well worth it

Gear ratio = sounds cool

Bigger tires = yes
Can be rectified at any time

Lift = yes
But not if you were getting a rallitek lift

I also think the seat material is badass.

If there were a lower trim, maybe the XT?, with a turbo and the same seat material, AND I knew I wanted a taller lift for taller tires, I'd get the lower trim and then kit it out.

Again, if GM made a 6' bed Colorado/Canyon in ZR2, I'd have never looked at a Subaru. I did like the Frontier a lot, and the Tacoma could have worked, but the Outback was a big surprise. @KickinNDishin hates it.

I've got some pictures of Nebula here https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/how-have-you-tricked-out-your-subaru.421448/
 
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