Don’t know why so many people are bagging this guy out, he has a great setup, well done, probably been to way more difficult places then most people have in this comment section.
So many people knocking this bloke for his passion and his car. We all share the same enthusiasm for getting out bush and enjoying ourselves why does it matter what you drive? This bloke probably does more for the 4wd community than all the yobos in thier shitboxes doing doughnuts and skids on the beach which only contributes to the authorities wanting to close everything that the rest of us want to enjoy. Good on you Andrew and Ronny keep them coming 🍻
Thank you Ronny for the subielove ! For 3 years now I try to show people through my videos that a Forester or a Subaru in general is an absolutely awesome overland / touring vehicle ! 🔥 And the beauty of it is that you don't have to spend a crazy amount of money to make them even more capable off road.👊 My Foz took me everywhere I wanted last year (10+ countries so far) and if we didn't had this virus mess going on I should have been to Mongolia with it. Despite that, I still have a lot of plans for my Foz and my future trips ! Stay tuned 🙏
This guy knows his stuff and is pretty pragmatic. I learnt to offroad in a Subaru Leone and it was a great introduction and you learn to do it right when the vehicle isn't as capable. I can guarantee that if you put Adrian in my FJ Cruiser he'd be unstoppable. To the clowns giving him sh1t, he's getting out there, and he's enjoying himself, and more importantly, he's helping others to enjoy their vehicles and the great outdoors. Good job mate.
One thing i've learnt as a mechanic, is that the Subaru is the most underrated vehicle in Australia. Super reliable and capable, symmetrically balanced driveline and comfortable to drive. Don't forget once upon a time they were a champion rally car. The funny thing is, the people bagging Subaru's out have big 4 wheel drives that will only ever take them to 2 wheel drive campsites towing a caravan or camper trailer. This Subie will go to 90% of the places that most people go anyway. So who's the silly one? You deserved the gag Ronny LOL. Keep up the great content mate!
I think this is a great video Ronny and long overdue. I know there’ll be haters, some just for the sake of it and look - each to their own however these little cars are grey in the right hands. You can’t deny that. Sure they’ll have limits but what vehicle doesn’t ? For anyone doubting Subaru’s being used off road - feel free to check out ‘Soft Roading In The West’ on YT, he’s a Canadian fella that goes everywhere in his ! He loves it !!! It’s great to see an ‘everyday’ car ( whether you call it a car, an suv, an AWD or a 4x4 ) featured and letting old mate explain it all for those who may be new to the whole camping / off roaring / overlanding scene. Not all enthusiasts can afford their dream car, their 200 series with all the gear or a fully modified Y62 or a dual cab 79 with all the bells & whistles - we all buy what we can afford. And whether it’s a Subaru like this vehicle, or a Mitsubishi Delica van or a Grand Vitara ( like ours that gets us 98% of where we want to go ), as long as their vehicle of choice is getting them out into our beautiful outdoors and letting them get to nice camp spots, who cares ? And even better when you’re not paying off a second mortgage or a $200 lease repayment, it doesn’t get any better than that ! These are a great little car, nice and light and nibble as, will get down tight tracks and into most spots so good to see Ronny 👍 I’ve lost a few good mates lately and it really rams home that life really is way too short to not be enjoying it to the fullest. This is something I truly am passionate about ..... BIG TIME ! So well done mate to you and it’s owner, bloody fantastic to see 👍👍👍🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 Goes to show no matter what car you do or DON’T own, don’t let that hold you back from getting out, enjoying life out on our tracks and seeing our beautiful bush surroundings. All cars are great in the right hands and if you know your vehicles limits and your own capabilities, then there’s nothing holding you back. Hopefully, this may help to change some of that bloke brigade thoughts towards what is a 4 wheel drive and an all wheel drive when it comes to sharing tracks.
I'm not Canadian :-) but thank you, sincerely, for the shoutout. You make many great points here. Not all of us can afford - or even truly *need* - a big 4x4. I get to amazing places in my little Forester. Really happy to see one being featured here. For more Forester action in Australia, also check out Ignition Offroad. He built a very impressive 2nd-gen Forester that truly pushes the limits of what can be accomplished in a little Subie.
softroadingthewest sorry mate about the Canadian thing .... I thought some of those beautiful places you visit were home to you - my bad 😆😬 but yes, as someone who watches all your clips, I am rather inspired to see a smaller non traditional ‘4WD’ getting out and amongst it 😉👍👍👍 Great stuff mate. Just watch those snatch straps and windscreens won’t you 😆👍
@@4WheelingInNSW Haha, no worries! I love our neighbors to the north. For my part, I don't know the difference between WA and NSW, so there you go. :-)
@@softroadingthewest 😆👍 legend mate, love your videos too - keep up the great work. Great your daughter is getting out a bit more too wth you, can’t beat father daughter bonding time. Top stuff champ 👍🇦🇺🇺🇸
ua-cam.com/channels/7LygZPPsEXIomJwwagkd-Q.html We all have fun :) and check out Australian Rural Adventures, he has great off road Subi action as well :)
To be fair to the Subaru drivers out there I did personally witness a Forester make it up Billy Goats Bluff track in the Victorian High Country when it was quite chopped up. A good effort only surpassed by the size of the bloke that managed to fit in the thing. Well over 6 foot tall, I thought for a minute there he was driving it from the back seat like Hightower from the Police Academy Movies.
@@PatrolAdventuresAustralia Yeah no worries mate, it's just there are not a lot of them out driving them like that. So when you said he was tall it reminded me of my mate! We are from the Briagolong area so it wouldn't surprise me if it was them up billy goats.
Ok, the car is not a true 4x4 in the general sense. Traction control looked suss in the early clips....but the guy is passionate, knows his vehicle, and has some nice mods. A lot worse could be said for some other 4x4 owners that think a 4” lift and a snorkel make you invincible....I’m impressed with his efforts.
Matt Australia well if that’s the case mate, an 80 series isn’t a ‘real 4wd’ as they’re constantly in ‘all wheel drive.... actually so is a 100 series and a 105 series and a 200 series ..... geez it’s not looking too good for the Toyota LandCrusier fraternity then. Our Grabd Vitara is also constantly in 4 wheel drive with a. 60/40 split rear/front respectively/ However when we flick it to 4H lock, it has a centre differential that splits power 50/50. Then if you got to 4L it is split 50/50 with a lot lower gear reduction, all done through a seperate transfer case.....exactly thee same as the aforementioned ‘real 4wd’ LandCrusiers .... So which one is it - are they real 4wd or AWD - if it goes for one it goes for all 😉👍 just sayin’
@@Matthew_Australia Are all Full-Time 4WDs considered AWDs in your world? A locked centre diff doesn't matter at all despite it evenly splitting the torque between front/rear in your books then? Still an AWD? You are arguing over marketing wank.
I seen a suki vitara pull a 100 series out and a gu patrol so yea i dont doubt it + he said he mainly does beach driving .... mostly just a pull ( Push ) start lol .... stuck in the mud hell yea i'd doubt it
The intro was just pure comedic gold 👍😂👍 It's so cool seeing someone like Adrian being so passionate about a off road vehicle that is so left field of what everyone else is running that suits his needs, and as I have always said there are no such things as bad 4wd's just bad drivers. Again another brilliant video Ronny mate 👍😀👍
Light weight, really affordable, dual range, LSD's and a locking center diff make these very daily drivable cars great for camping, touring, and exploring sandy tracks. I feel that people are misreading the intention of buying a car like this, it's not a $60k troopy with 35's and a 4"' lift. Its a car for someone who wants to go camping and do some light four-wheel driving on a budget with the added daily drivability that makes these cars so popular. These are actually quite capable vehicles due to their lightweight and AWD system. Comparing them to a lifted Patrol or Landcruiser is a bit stupid, but they are surprisingly capable in reasonable scenarios. I own the pre-facelift SG, non-turbo and manual, and its a fantastic car... these clips don't do these cars justice...they love the sand due to their weight and when modified correctly can be very capable. Have a look on youtube or Instagram for some other more off-road focused builds for some better clips. Great effort to the bloke in this video, you can clearly see how passionate he is about his car. Thanks for the episode Ronny!
Good to see a Subaru Forester XT on the channel! Very underrated car!! I love both my Foresters na and turbo model! One is for off road and one is a street car
Well I’ll go against the grain here. Great vid Ronny and awesome to see Adrian proud of his vehicle rather than some others that stand there like a spoon next to their gq replying “yeah it goes alright” to every question cause the car was built by a mechanic. Sure, this car is not my cup of tea and I would not take it where I take my 4wd but fuck me, no skin of my nose if Adrian loves his forester. Great to see passionate people in the 4wd/awd community.
@@0whc awkwardness and unnecessary damage. He knows a lot on paper, yes. Unfortunately he uses that knowledge a lot in Subaru groups to spread doubt and discontent. Openly discourages people building their cars because the proposed mods are illegal/dodgy, despite his build being both. He touts his offroading classes as the best way of learning, however his choices in line, approach and speed are questionable at best (in my humble opinion). He's less of an ambassador and more of a gatekeeper. I'd know, I used to be a mod for one of the groups he's most active in. He's well respected in the tea and scones Subaru circles, and honestly he should stick to that.
This car has a wrx engine/turbo and it's tuned, and has good off road capability. would do really good on sand too. it's like a rally car that u can rally in and daily :)
That engine is standard in an XT Forester. 5.5 to 100kph. Not quite a Ferrari, but we can do dirt. So better. Serious 4x4's can crawl rocks at 2km an hour. Fun for some. Unless you are an owner of a Forester XT. We view fire trails as time trials and 80kph is the minimum to get anywhere both paved and unpaved. However that could just be me.
People tend to forget that we all have different levels of needs and requirements wrt vehicles. First time 4x4 in my 4wd Duster was way more intense than in my Triton with difflock and low range and it taught me way more about terrain reading.
Great to see a Subi on the channel! We built several "Scubarus" to drive underwater in the local river. Huge snorkels chem welded to the carby, exhaust snorkel, holes drilled in the floor so it would sink properly, scuba tank with masks and partially waterproofed electrics including distributor and coil. Non-interference heads meant when you did eventually (inevitably) drown it, pull out the spark plugs and off you go. Was an absolute pisser! We also took a bog stock one (prior to being turned into scubaru mk7) to Dargo via the bush tracks thinking that it wouldn't make up some of the tougher tracks with 5 blokes on board. Only needed a push once (with a patrol bullbar) but that was more the road tyres than the vehicle! Great little cars.
@@procrastinator1842 I might somewhere, this was close to 10 years ago though so will be on an old HDD if anything. I'll have a look and see what I can find!
Subarus are really good on gravel, dirt, sand and snow. If you’ve got a family and are just looking for a vehicle to get you putt on the weekend, they’re great!
Had a 1991 GL series years ago and the thing went everywhere, through river crossings with water upto the windscreen, sand, rutted tracks etc probably helped having bare minimal electrics in it... absolute tank!
Awesome setup. I had a bog stock '03 Outback and was constantly surprised how well it went offroad. For fire trails and forest roads, these things are amazing. There's almost always a cheat track around the hard stuff.
an absolutely awesome and well thought out build. A top video! Well done Ronny.. 19:06 great bit of snark from Adrian about the air compressor and pretty cheeky comeback about the size of the tyres 😂 love it! All these heroes bashing the guy probably should get their rig featured on Ronny's channel. Seems like Ronny quite enjoyed listening to the build and the amount of detail that went into it... I like it that he didn't really talk until around 23 minutes in and as a complete newbie i learned a lot out of his questions and Adrian's answers than i would have just looking at some 'fully sick' build..
I've ditched my 06 Forester for a 90 series diesel Prado. While the Forester would get me most places I'd want to go for camping and has been a fantastic vehicle, the fuel range is something that can't be changed easily. 159L factory tank in the Prado expands the possibilities.
@@julski007 rear end of the 90 series Prado flexes really well, and can run a lot bigger tyre. Combined with a lockable centre diff and you have true 4WD, and that's before you add lockable front and rear diffs.
I bought a new 1982 Subaru wagon. I was great. $8,200 with air con. did over 325,000 kms . Ayres rock and everywhere. If it was on the market now and would really have to look at buying it again. Very simple , easy to service, very reliable . I can't understand why cars now are so complicated and less reliable. I can understand the saying.." The good old days"
@Ronny Dahl I think you could make a very informative video running a bunch of different vehicles (modified and stock) through a series of different test and finding where the limits of each are. e.g. increasing depth of ruts, approach, departure and ramp over obstacles, articulation, climbing dunes etc. I think it would educate a lot of misguided people who believe that one setup is always better than others and make for a very interesting video. I would happily nominate my Subaru for the test for the modified Subaru category. In the Subaru world is considered by most to be the most capable all subaru offroad vehicle in Australia and would give the 79 a run for its money in a lot of situations.
Lol, that was funny. Good for you Ronnie keeping an open mind. The subaru is a great off road vehicle but it will not go on the extreme 4x4 tracks. Which makes the subbie good enough for me. Different strokes for different folks.
This is not a 4x4…. But that was never the point. This IS a tourer. A hell of one from the looks of it. It gets out, it gets there, and so far it gets back. I LOVE this kind of rig. The original 4x4s weren’t touring rigs, they were vehicles meant for rough roads MADE into vehicles meant for rough terrain. This dude is keeping that spirit going. Good on you.
While it's not a 4x4 in its stock form, this subbie is a 4x4 as he's installed a locking centre diff. Surprised they didn't talk more about that, probably the best mod he did to increase capability.
Hey Ronny, when are you going to do a collaboration episode with Russell Coight?.... or at least do a modified episode on his truck. There's something to be said about someone who does more with less and really pushes the boundaries of a vehicle to it's limits and beyond, and gets results, well executed......
Last year I went to one off our national parks, they only allow 4×4 vehicle. I knew this but I courageously drove until I reached the entry gate, the park officer was like hey we don't allow small vehicles here we only allow real 4×4s. Then hesitantly he started writing down the entry details and asked me what car is this by the way? I said it's a SUBARU FORESTER he was like oh a subaru! Please go ahead and enjoy self just take care. I happily enjoyed my day with my fozz and it was cool drive🚙
I enjoyed the video and the guys passion. I had a 97 liberty wagon in NZ standard and for what it was worth was good when I used to get out to a lot of hiking tracks. Miss that Wandoo country.
Yes nice to see a Suby so passionately presented - I have long ago (10 years) graduated from a Suby, but when it was my "Sleipnir" (google it) I regularly accompanied a Toyota 75 series and a Land Rover on countless extended camping trips through the Victorian High Country, and in all seasons. Driving a Subaru offroad is honestly all about "TECHNICAL DRIVING" but irrespective of that it was in the snow that the Suby absolutely excelled when compared with the Toyota and the Land Rover - Subies love snow play, HOWEVER what ever you drive - know your vehicle's strengths and weaknesses, exploit them and respect them, in that order, you wont break them and you'll have a bonza time out there.
My mate had one of these. We done it up for off road as a joke but actually came to love it. Great fun and actually has better clearances then you think due to no diffs and shit hanging down. Also if your fast enough they skim across water very well.
Love this video Ronny, innovative and super clever diy mods like these are fascinating and an inspiration to those wanting to enter this world without the budget for a big brand 4wd fit-out. Please do more videos like this with people who modded there own vehicle in unique ways!
A Forester on it’s own are very good, probably the most capable car in its class and able to take on conventional 4x4s, but please don’t compare it to a fully built tough track rigs, it’s like comparing a pug to to a trained german shepherd. Keep on 4 wheeling lads.
Nice interview. I've recently put some good A/T tyres and sump bash plate on my Outback. Looking forward to doing some touring with it. They are quite capable vehicles off road if they have low range gearing.
I also got a Forester as my first car mainly because I couldn't afford the MPG of a more serious diesel truck. Now however I have to deal with the rust issue more than anything but to be fair you can take one of these to places that will surprise you. The problem is you always feel like you are taking a gamble and there's always a thought of "will I have to turn back after 100 meters?"
You are right, I once followed the 4×4 guys they had an event down the mountains I was constantly thinking of how I will get back home with such stip mountains. To my surprise the SF9 didn't even struggle at all. I enjoyed the drive
@@samsonphiri6874 Yup, I've noticed my sg Forester does a lot better climbing than going down. Since it isn't lifted the IFS really soaks up everything and quite often you lose a lot of ground clearance every time you step off a rock and risk dragging the bottom or hitting something.
HELL YEA, I had a 04 SG and loved that thing. I started modding it before "off roading a subaru" became popular in the states, and there were very little mods to be had. I was always jealous of the Australian ones as they had the manual trans with dual range gear boxes and locking diffs. I sold that SG and the idiot that bought it ruined it. Loved that Fozzy.
Given this has taken me to stacks of difficult and remote 4wd locations in WA, im not sure where extra i could go that I can't already get to... list some examples and ill tell if you if a Subaru has been there.
@@adrianlongwood2367 my mum has had 2 forests over the last 14 years. I learned to drive in one, they are limited by ground clearance and suspension travel just like any other 4wd.
@@stephendean100 i loved my mazda bravo very much, i built my 4wding confidence in it. When i moved on to my twin locked turbo 80 sahara the next level of capability was very apparent. Im saying if he went out and got something with a solid axel and a wading depth of over 350mm that could at least fit 33" tyres then he would also be blown away at how much more capable it is.
I had an 05 XT 5 speed and I thought about going this way but I realized very quickly wasn't going to do what I wanted without basically ruining it and even then it was iffy. Sold it and bought an 80 series. Im impressed the low range box can handle the EJ255. Wish we had that option ever in the US.
Ronny I love your channel mate, but you slept on Subaru's. I lifted and armored my '09 Forester and have thousands of western USA deserts and Mountain trails under her belt...And I'm from Brooklyn, NY!!!! All I can say, Ive passed more broken Jeeps and Jeep parts on trail than i can count. Cheers! keep em coming!
I know it wont be done, but I wish Ronny would do a review of a modified 2017 or later Cherokee Trailhawk. I had a 2 in lift in my old one, on 31in Duratracs. Its got brake lock diffs front and rear, a rear locker, a proper low range, and all kinds of protection underneath, although I had to add sliders to the slides. It was quite comfortable inside too. Aside from trails that require more height than I had in it, that thing went anywhere the modded rigs went, and most often without having to use the locker as the brake lock diffs acted like a more effective limited slip right away. You didnt see this kind of wheel slippage at all. And a lot less when I engaged the rear locker. Its not as roomy, but it was also damned good on the highway too.
I had a mk1 forester. I loved it. Tore the sump on a rock. My bad off road driving I guess. So I bought a jimny instead. 100x better off road, 100x worse on road. Same story with the Isuzu trooper I had next. If you’re planning on driving mostly roads and easy off road tracks, I’d recommend a forester any day. Much more civilised on road than a “proper off roader” and still fairly capable on the trails. Mine was incredibly comfortable too.
The few downfalls he spoke about. Computer. Relocate it to a higher position. Maybe improve door seals. For sure put on a snorkel. Over all. This is a bad ass ride. I’d drive it! Love how ya started the vid. I was LMAO at y’all!
only thing i would have done different is go with a 15" rim and run some 215/75 tires. with the subarus limited tire fitment and lack of a "real" dual range transmission (i know these guys got the factory option of dual range) the extra sidewall from a 15" tire really helps.
good work and hats off to the bloke for giving it his all - all i can say is good luck trying to find the next owner who would put value in all the add-ons to pay a premium for effectively a SUV. Can only think the 4x4 he'd have for the same investment that any 4wd purchaser would appreciate and pay extra for
Loved the start, the kidnapping act! Just brilliant mate! Fucken awesome! I very much love how Adrian defends his Subaru!! I would do the same! Big-up!
Some people seem to take their "real 4wd" a bit too seriously. Sure a Subaru cant go everywhere, but I had a whole lot more fun bashing my Outback around in the bush and having moments of; how the fuck did I make it up here? Than in my Colorado that Ive yet to take anywhere my old Subie couldnt go.
![Дон ДОН, Алаудинов и СБЕЖАВШИЕ из под Курска ахматовцы 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEfCf5IK26Q/mqdefault.jpg)
Don’t know why so many people are bagging this guy out, he has a great setup, well done, probably been to way more difficult places then most people have in this comment section.
Yep. Exactly. You work with what you have. If it works for him and takes him where he wants to go then it’s fine.
Couldnt agree more
Rhys S +1 👍
4xExploring Australia +1 👍
BeCaUsE iTs NoT a ReAl 4wD
Guaranteed this guy has been to more places than 90% of 79 owners.
😆😆👍
So many people knocking this bloke for his passion and his car. We all share the same enthusiasm for getting out bush and enjoying ourselves why does it matter what you drive? This bloke probably does more for the 4wd community than all the yobos in thier shitboxes doing doughnuts and skids on the beach which only contributes to the authorities wanting to close everything that the rest of us want to enjoy.
Good on you Andrew and Ronny keep them coming 🍻
Very few people. Almost no one.
Calm down lady.
Eh. His AWD skidding out on every minor incline chews up all the tracks 🤷♂️ not a huge deal it is something to consider
This was very different. Good on the bloke for being passionate about what he has
Well said mate 😉👍
Matt Australia +2 👍
@@4WheelingInNSW +3
JohnZZR 😉👍
@@heliarcweldandmachine You sound like hell for company, have to watch our every word. Stinking attitude, great way to repel people.
Thank you Ronny for the subielove ! For 3 years now I try to show people through my videos that a Forester or a Subaru in general is an absolutely awesome overland / touring vehicle ! 🔥
And the beauty of it is that you don't have to spend a crazy amount of money to make them even more capable off road.👊
My Foz took me everywhere I wanted last year (10+ countries so far) and if we didn't had this virus mess going on I should have been to Mongolia with it.
Despite that, I still have a lot of plans for my Foz and my future trips !
Stay tuned 🙏
Ive seen your vids, you crazy french guy. love them.
@@Becomingwildman Ahahaha thanks for your support ! 🙏
You doing very well Jordan…
Love your car and vids!
This guy knows his stuff and is pretty pragmatic.
I learnt to offroad in a Subaru Leone and it was a great introduction and you learn to do it right when the vehicle isn't as capable. I can guarantee that if you put Adrian in my FJ Cruiser he'd be unstoppable.
To the clowns giving him sh1t, he's getting out there, and he's enjoying himself, and more importantly, he's helping others to enjoy their vehicles and the great outdoors.
Good job mate.
One thing i've learnt as a mechanic, is that the Subaru is the most underrated vehicle in Australia. Super reliable and capable, symmetrically balanced driveline and comfortable to drive. Don't forget once upon a time they were a champion rally car. The funny thing is, the people bagging Subaru's out have big 4 wheel drives that will only ever take them to 2 wheel drive campsites towing a caravan or camper trailer. This Subie will go to 90% of the places that most people go anyway. So who's the silly one? You deserved the gag Ronny LOL. Keep up the great content mate!
to be fair this is probably the best rig run down you have done, this blokes a walking dictionary
I think this is a great video Ronny and long overdue.
I know there’ll be haters, some just for the sake of it and look - each to their own however these little cars are grey in the right hands. You can’t deny that. Sure they’ll have limits but what vehicle doesn’t ?
For anyone doubting Subaru’s being used off road - feel free to check out ‘Soft Roading In The West’ on YT, he’s a Canadian fella that goes everywhere in his ! He loves it !!!
It’s great to see an ‘everyday’ car ( whether you call it a car, an suv, an AWD or a 4x4 ) featured and letting old mate explain it all for those who may be new to the whole camping / off roaring / overlanding scene.
Not all enthusiasts can afford their dream car, their 200 series with all the gear or a fully modified Y62 or a dual cab 79 with all the bells & whistles - we all buy what we can afford.
And whether it’s a Subaru like this vehicle, or a Mitsubishi Delica van or a Grand Vitara ( like ours that gets us 98% of where we want to go ), as long as their vehicle of choice is getting them out into our beautiful outdoors and letting them get to nice camp spots, who cares ? And even better when you’re not paying off a second mortgage or a $200 lease repayment, it doesn’t get any better than that !
These are a great little car, nice and light and nibble as, will get down tight tracks and into most spots so good to see Ronny 👍
I’ve lost a few good mates lately and it really rams home that life really is way too short to not be enjoying it to the fullest.
This is something I truly am passionate about ..... BIG TIME ! So well done mate to you and it’s owner, bloody fantastic to see 👍👍👍🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Goes to show no matter what car you do or DON’T own, don’t let that hold you back from getting out, enjoying life out on our tracks and seeing our beautiful bush surroundings.
All cars are great in the right hands and if you know your vehicles limits and your own capabilities, then there’s nothing holding you back.
Hopefully, this may help to change some of that bloke brigade thoughts towards what is a 4 wheel drive and an all wheel drive when it comes to sharing tracks.
I'm not Canadian :-) but thank you, sincerely, for the shoutout. You make many great points here. Not all of us can afford - or even truly *need* - a big 4x4. I get to amazing places in my little Forester. Really happy to see one being featured here. For more Forester action in Australia, also check out Ignition Offroad. He built a very impressive 2nd-gen Forester that truly pushes the limits of what can be accomplished in a little Subie.
softroadingthewest sorry mate about the Canadian thing .... I thought some of those beautiful places you visit were home to you - my bad 😆😬 but yes, as someone who watches all your clips, I am rather inspired to see a smaller non traditional ‘4WD’ getting out and amongst it 😉👍👍👍
Great stuff mate. Just watch those snatch straps and windscreens won’t you 😆👍
@@4WheelingInNSW Haha, no worries! I love our neighbors to the north. For my part, I don't know the difference between WA and NSW, so there you go. :-)
@@softroadingthewest 😆👍 legend mate, love your videos too - keep up the great work. Great your daughter is getting out a bit more too wth you, can’t beat father daughter bonding time. Top stuff champ 👍🇦🇺🇺🇸
ua-cam.com/channels/7LygZPPsEXIomJwwagkd-Q.html
We all have fun :) and check out Australian Rural Adventures, he has great off road Subi action as well :)
To be fair to the Subaru drivers out there I did personally witness a Forester make it up Billy Goats Bluff track in the Victorian High Country when it was quite chopped up. A good effort only surpassed by the size of the bloke that managed to fit in the thing. Well over 6 foot tall, I thought for a minute there he was driving it from the back seat like Hightower from the Police Academy Movies.
That's impressive considering I've done that track in a 70 series and proper stuck, just before they close the track for winter, though.
It wasn't a Subaru L series wagon was it? I know a bloke who is about 6'6" that drives one up the high country. Takes it anywhere haha
@@jimmysando99 I'm not sure which model it was. I don't know much about the Subaru models.
@@PatrolAdventuresAustralia Yeah no worries mate, it's just there are not a lot of them out driving them like that. So when you said he was tall it reminded me of my mate! We are from the Briagolong area so it wouldn't surprise me if it was them up billy goats.
you can find a video of a modified SF forester doing it on youtube. its called billy goats bluff in a modified Subaru.
Ok, the car is not a true 4x4 in the general sense. Traction control looked suss in the early clips....but the guy is passionate, knows his vehicle, and has some nice mods. A lot worse could be said for some other 4x4 owners that think a 4” lift and a snorkel make you invincible....I’m impressed with his efforts.
Technically it is a true 4x4 it has a transfer case with low range and a centre diff lock same as an 80 or 100 just sayin
Matt Australia well if that’s the case mate, an 80 series isn’t a ‘real 4wd’ as they’re constantly in ‘all wheel drive....
actually so is a 100 series
and a 105 series
and a 200 series ..... geez it’s not looking too good for the Toyota LandCrusier fraternity then.
Our Grabd Vitara is also constantly in 4 wheel drive with a. 60/40 split rear/front respectively/
However when we flick it to 4H lock, it has a centre differential that splits power 50/50. Then if you got to 4L it is split 50/50 with a lot lower gear reduction, all done through a seperate transfer case.....exactly thee same as the aforementioned ‘real 4wd’ LandCrusiers ....
So which one is it - are they real 4wd or AWD - if it goes for one it goes for all 😉👍
just sayin’
Tim Moss +1 👍
What does it actually matter what of its an awd or 4wd it goes offroad and takes him where he wants to go, and having a great time while hes doing it.
@@Matthew_Australia Are all Full-Time 4WDs considered AWDs in your world? A locked centre diff doesn't matter at all despite it evenly splitting the torque between front/rear in your books then? Still an AWD? You are arguing over marketing wank.
“I snatched a few 80 series’ out”
Ronny: “okay”
If there is no video or photos it did not happen.
😂😂😂
Brent Bovell my old foz has 1.5 ton towing. Still not enough but Yeahh
I seen a suki vitara pull a 100 series out and a gu patrol so yea i dont doubt it + he said he mainly does beach driving .... mostly just a pull ( Push ) start lol .... stuck in the mud hell yea i'd doubt it
you can snatch out much much larger vehicles with a smaller vehicle, the trick is the snatch flexes and does the work lol
I like how enthusiastic and knowledgeable this guy is about his vehicle. Something a little different from all the over kill 4x4s we see these days.
The intro was just pure comedic gold 👍😂👍
It's so cool seeing someone like Adrian being so passionate about a off road vehicle that is so left field of what everyone else is running that suits his needs, and as I have always said there are no such things as bad 4wd's just bad drivers.
Again another brilliant video Ronny mate 👍😀👍
Something different, I like it. Sometimes it gets boring looking at the same thing all the time
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Light weight, really affordable, dual range, LSD's and a locking center diff make these very daily drivable cars great for camping, touring, and exploring sandy tracks.
I feel that people are misreading the intention of buying a car like this, it's not a $60k troopy with 35's and a 4"' lift. Its a car for someone who wants to go camping and do some light four-wheel driving on a budget with the added daily drivability that makes these cars so popular. These are actually quite capable vehicles due to their lightweight and AWD system. Comparing them to a lifted Patrol or Landcruiser is a bit stupid, but they are surprisingly capable in reasonable scenarios.
I own the pre-facelift SG, non-turbo and manual, and its a fantastic car... these clips don't do these cars justice...they love the sand due to their weight and when modified correctly can be very capable. Have a look on youtube or Instagram for some other more off-road focused builds for some better clips.
Great effort to the bloke in this video, you can clearly see how passionate he is about his car. Thanks for the episode Ronny!
Good to see a Subaru Forester XT on the channel! Very underrated car!! I love both my Foresters na and turbo model! One is for off road and one is a street car
Well I’ll go against the grain here. Great vid Ronny and awesome to see Adrian proud of his vehicle rather than some others that stand there like a spoon next to their gq replying “yeah it goes alright” to every question cause the car was built by a mechanic. Sure, this car is not my cup of tea and I would not take it where I take my 4wd but fuck me, no skin of my nose if Adrian loves his forester.
Great to see passionate people in the 4wd/awd community.
used to own an outback 2001 and super surprised where that thing went and still made it home.
it teaches you MOMENTUM which some people never learn
Impressive Forrester and a great ambassador for Subaru!
He really isn't.
@@deadpenitence why?
@@0whc I've seen him drive up close.
@@deadpenitence interesting. What happened? He seems to know his Subarus regardless
@@0whc awkwardness and unnecessary damage. He knows a lot on paper, yes. Unfortunately he uses that knowledge a lot in Subaru groups to spread doubt and discontent. Openly discourages people building their cars because the proposed mods are illegal/dodgy, despite his build being both. He touts his offroading classes as the best way of learning, however his choices in line, approach and speed are questionable at best (in my humble opinion). He's less of an ambassador and more of a gatekeeper. I'd know, I used to be a mod for one of the groups he's most active in. He's well respected in the tea and scones Subaru circles, and honestly he should stick to that.
This car has a wrx engine/turbo and it's tuned, and has good off road capability.
would do really good on sand too.
it's like a rally car that u can rally in and daily :)
That engine is standard in an XT Forester.
5.5 to 100kph. Not quite a Ferrari, but we can do dirt. So better.
Serious 4x4's can crawl rocks at 2km an hour. Fun for some. Unless you are an owner of a Forester XT. We view fire trails as time trials and 80kph is the minimum to get anywhere both paved and unpaved.
However that could just be me.
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Poor old Ronny didn’t get a word in on this video.
Man i couldn't watch
It was an interview style, he handed the reigns over as it wasn't his vehicle to talk about.
People tend to forget that we all have different levels of needs and requirements wrt vehicles. First time 4x4 in my 4wd Duster was way more intense than in my Triton with difflock and low range and it taught me way more about terrain reading.
man there is some salty people in here don't be jealous you didn't get picked for a modified episode
😆😆🤔 true mate, agree 100% 👍
"STI bottom end and factory head," that's Subaru owner for "it spun a bearing"
bottom end knock, quite typical, it's not uncommon to see workshops with 5 - 10 broken EJ engines that all had bottom end knock.
@@oldfashionedwrx3574 ua-cam.com/channels/N-72IwFJU5wj5h8eiAH2jA.htmlvideos
@@elsimmo75 that's sick
@@oldfashionedwrx3574 he goes alright hey. Check out the $1000 track wide 14km in two days
Heck yeah! Something different! Love a subie.
I've been waiting for a subbie episode for ages
Great to see a Subi on the channel! We built several "Scubarus" to drive underwater in the local river. Huge snorkels chem welded to the carby, exhaust snorkel, holes drilled in the floor so it would sink properly, scuba tank with masks and partially waterproofed electrics including distributor and coil. Non-interference heads meant when you did eventually (inevitably) drown it, pull out the spark plugs and off you go. Was an absolute pisser! We also took a bog stock one (prior to being turned into scubaru mk7) to Dargo via the bush tracks thinking that it wouldn't make up some of the tougher tracks with 5 blokes on board. Only needed a push once (with a patrol bullbar) but that was more the road tyres than the vehicle! Great little cars.
Wow do you have pics/video of this??
@@procrastinator1842 I might somewhere, this was close to 10 years ago though so will be on an old HDD if anything. I'll have a look and see what I can find!
Subarus are really good on gravel, dirt, sand and snow. If you’ve got a family and are just looking for a vehicle to get you putt on the weekend, they’re great!
"4 O'Clock in the afternoon your water is nice and warm" Me: Laughs in Scottish
Had a 1991 GL series years ago and the thing went everywhere, through river crossings with water upto the windscreen, sand, rutted tracks etc probably helped having bare minimal electrics in it... absolute tank!
Awesome setup. I had a bog stock '03 Outback and was constantly surprised how well it went offroad. For fire trails and forest roads, these things are amazing. There's almost always a cheat track around the hard stuff.
an absolutely awesome and well thought out build. A top video! Well done Ronny..
19:06 great bit of snark from Adrian about the air compressor and pretty cheeky comeback about the size of the tyres 😂 love it! All these heroes bashing the guy probably should get their rig featured on Ronny's channel.
Seems like Ronny quite enjoyed listening to the build and the amount of detail that went into it... I like it that he didn't really talk until around 23 minutes in and as a complete newbie i learned a lot out of his questions and Adrian's answers than i would have just looking at some 'fully sick' build..
I've ditched my 06 Forester for a 90 series diesel Prado. While the Forester would get me most places I'd want to go for camping and has been a fantastic vehicle, the fuel range is something that can't be changed easily. 159L factory tank in the Prado expands the possibilities.
Which one is more capable offroad?
@@julski007 rear end of the 90 series Prado flexes really well, and can run a lot bigger tyre. Combined with a lockable centre diff and you have true 4WD, and that's before you add lockable front and rear diffs.
I bought a new 1982 Subaru wagon. I was great. $8,200 with air con. did over 325,000 kms . Ayres rock and everywhere. If it was on the market now and would really have to look at buying it again. Very simple , easy to service, very reliable . I can't understand why cars now are so complicated and less reliable. I can understand the saying.." The good old days"
@Ronny Dahl I think you could make a very informative video running a bunch of different vehicles (modified and stock) through a series of different test and finding where the limits of each are. e.g. increasing depth of ruts, approach, departure and ramp over obstacles, articulation, climbing dunes etc. I think it would educate a lot of misguided people who believe that one setup is always better than others and make for a very interesting video. I would happily nominate my Subaru for the test for the modified Subaru category. In the Subaru world is considered by most to be the most capable all subaru offroad vehicle in Australia and would give the 79 a run for its money in a lot of situations.
I Second this! This guy Knows how to wheel ;)
Yeah Mate , hats off to this gentleman for what he has achieved .
great intro Ronny!
This is 4wd maturity and knowledge, without the wannabe grunt of the current trend.
Well said mate...haters will be haters simply because its doing well off-road and they don’t think it should.
Lol, that was funny. Good for you Ronnie keeping an open mind. The subaru is a great off road vehicle but it will not go on the extreme 4x4 tracks. Which makes the subbie good enough for me. Different strokes for different folks.
This is not a 4x4…. But that was never the point. This IS a tourer. A hell of one from the looks of it. It gets out, it gets there, and so far it gets back. I LOVE this kind of rig. The original 4x4s weren’t touring rigs, they were vehicles meant for rough roads MADE into vehicles meant for rough terrain. This dude is keeping that spirit going. Good on you.
While it's not a 4x4 in its stock form, this subbie is a 4x4 as he's installed a locking centre diff. Surprised they didn't talk more about that, probably the best mod he did to increase capability.
I love how he talks to Ronny like he is an amateur lmao.
Aye noticed that dude is stating the obvious too.
well hes amateur on subarus i guess
This thing is actually small compared to some around NSW... And nippy your 100 correct
Absolutely mate, glad I wasn't the only one thinking he was talking to ronny like it was ronnys first rodeo
He has to go over the basics for the viewer of the video, not Ronnie.
it still flexes better than a 79 😂
BUt not a 200 or a prado
So what's its payload
@@kgositheophilusbakwena3632 they weigh 1400kg and their gvm is about 1800-2000kg
@@kevinasman1036 alright mate so what's its RTI
@@kgositheophilusbakwena3632 no idea mate
God there is so much salt in here.
Cheers for the video, ronny. It's cool to see other shit!
@@Matthew_Australia 😂
Hey Ronny, when are you going to do a collaboration episode with Russell Coight?.... or at least do a modified episode on his truck.
There's something to be said about someone who does more with less and really pushes the boundaries of a vehicle to it's limits and beyond, and gets results, well executed......
Last year I went to one off our national parks, they only allow 4×4 vehicle. I knew this but I courageously drove until I reached the entry gate, the park officer was like hey we don't allow small vehicles here we only allow real 4×4s. Then hesitantly he started writing down the entry details and asked me what car is this by the way?
I said it's a SUBARU FORESTER he was like oh a subaru! Please go ahead and enjoy self just take care. I happily enjoyed my day with my fozz and it was cool drive🚙
You can also get auto lockers for the rear diff on these. Makes a massive difference in low traction environments. Cheap mod too.
Very cheeky Ronny. Almost a bit of Ivan Milat and Bradley John Murdoch. Lucky he didn't have a moustache, you might have been in real trouble. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I enjoyed the video and the guys passion. I had a 97 liberty wagon in NZ standard and for what it was worth was good when I used to get out to a lot of hiking tracks. Miss that Wandoo country.
Went mudding in high school in an 88' Subaru Justy. It drove circles around F150s my friends were driving in the mud pits. They're okay
Yes nice to see a Suby so passionately presented - I have long ago (10 years) graduated from a Suby, but when it was my "Sleipnir" (google it) I regularly accompanied a Toyota 75 series and a Land Rover on countless extended camping trips through the Victorian High Country, and in all seasons. Driving a Subaru offroad is honestly all about "TECHNICAL DRIVING" but irrespective of that it was in the snow that the Suby absolutely excelled when compared with the Toyota and the Land Rover - Subies love snow play, HOWEVER what ever you drive - know your vehicle's strengths and weaknesses, exploit them and respect them, in that order, you wont break them and you'll have a bonza time out there.
Great to see articles about different vehicles ,Grant
Well said mate 😉👍
This guy seems like an awesome guy. Love the Subaru setup.
Are you his mum?
This car looks like it was sponsored by Bunnings.
ARB is for suckers.
For the fun matters, this has to be the be the best episode. 👌😂
My mate had one of these. We done it up for off road as a joke but actually came to love it. Great fun and actually has better clearances then you think due to no diffs and shit hanging down.
Also if your fast enough they skim across water very well.
Loving these creative intros Ronny! This one is best yet!
Fair dinkum, guys knows his stuff subaru guy myself, theres alot of salty comments on here believe it or not theres more to life than a toyota
OMG, that was a bloody hilarious start!!! Only 0:21 into the vid, gotta give it a thumbs up!!!!!
Hahahaha, greatest intro so far, great Subaru too
Just keep them coming Ronny
Greetings from Serbia
Love this video Ronny, innovative and super clever diy mods like these are fascinating and an inspiration to those wanting to enter this world without the budget for a big brand 4wd fit-out. Please do more videos like this with people who modded there own vehicle in unique ways!
A Forester on it’s own are very good, probably the most capable car in its class and able to take on conventional 4x4s, but please don’t compare it to a fully built tough track rigs, it’s like comparing a pug to to a trained german shepherd. Keep on 4 wheeling lads.
Love Subaru’s, owner must really love them, that’s a lot of effort he has put into it, reminds me of the passion of Landrover Defender owners.
Great video, great mods showing what Foresters can do
Owner at least knows his strengths and limitations i.e sand is the best for Subarus
Nice interview. I've recently put some good A/T tyres and sump bash plate on my Outback. Looking forward to doing some touring with it. They are quite capable vehicles off road if they have low range gearing.
Metro and a boy scout... best show to date... your all legends... love this country
I didn't see anything in this video that a rented Toyota Van can't do.
Rentals are the most capable off road vehicles ahaha
Yeah good luck with that
Very very smart, he thinks everything through.
Awesome Subaru mate great to see something different!
Drove my 2008 Subaru Liberty out of a flooded grass car park. A Land Cruiser needed towing out.
This guy understands the car & i'm sure he's been to more places than "real" 4x4 lol
I also got a Forester as my first car mainly because I couldn't afford the MPG of a more serious diesel truck. Now however I have to deal with the rust issue more than anything but to be fair you can take one of these to places that will surprise you. The problem is you always feel like you are taking a gamble and there's always a thought of "will I have to turn back after 100 meters?"
You are right, I once followed the 4×4 guys they had an event down the mountains I was constantly thinking of how I will get back home with such stip mountains. To my surprise the SF9 didn't even struggle at all. I enjoyed the drive
@@samsonphiri6874 Yup, I've noticed my sg Forester does a lot better climbing than going down. Since it isn't lifted the IFS really soaks up everything and quite often you lose a lot of ground clearance every time you step off a rock and risk dragging the bottom or hitting something.
@@FUgays1 yes on stock ground clearance is the only issue because mine is stock as well, but in tames of capability the Subarus are magical
HELL YEA, I had a 04 SG and loved that thing. I started modding it before "off roading a subaru" became popular in the states, and there were very little mods to be had. I was always jealous of the Australian ones as they had the manual trans with dual range gear boxes and locking diffs. I sold that SG and the idiot that bought it ruined it. Loved that Fozzy.
that was the best intro ever. almost died laughing
That’s Subaru brother for the detailed explanation. I own Subaru Forester but I didn’t even know the basics. Please do more videos on newer foresters
This dude is super passionate. He really should buy a propper one he will love it!
Why though?
He loves what he has now, why waste money on something he is not passionate about. He is on his 3rd Subbie so he is happy.
Given this has taken me to stacks of difficult and remote 4wd locations in WA, im not sure where extra i could go that I can't already get to... list some examples and ill tell if you if a Subaru has been there.
@@adrianlongwood2367 my mum has had 2 forests over the last 14 years. I learned to drive in one, they are limited by ground clearance and suspension travel just like any other 4wd.
@@stephendean100 i loved my mazda bravo very much, i built my 4wding confidence in it. When i moved on to my twin locked turbo 80 sahara the next level of capability was very apparent. Im saying if he went out and got something with a solid axel and a wading depth of over 350mm that could at least fit 33" tyres then he would also be blown away at how much more capable it is.
Good to see another subaru fan. But i did eventually go a patrol for the rough stuff
I had an 05 XT 5 speed and I thought about going this way but I realized very quickly wasn't going to do what I wanted without basically ruining it and even then it was iffy. Sold it and bought an 80 series. Im impressed the low range box can handle the EJ255. Wish we had that option ever in the US.
I was going to pass this by, but then I was just like "hold on, did he gag and bind Ronny, and force him to ride in a subaru?"
Having a crap day ... this really made me laugh so cheers folks!
I like my Subaru off-road.
Great video as motivation to get out there with whatever vehicle you have and just enjoy yourself.
Ronny I love your channel mate, but you slept on Subaru's. I lifted and armored my '09 Forester and have thousands of western USA deserts and Mountain trails under her belt...And I'm from Brooklyn, NY!!!! All I can say, Ive passed more broken Jeeps and Jeep parts on trail than i can count. Cheers! keep em coming!
I know it wont be done, but I wish Ronny would do a review of a modified 2017 or later Cherokee Trailhawk. I had a 2 in lift in my old one, on 31in Duratracs. Its got brake lock diffs front and rear, a rear locker, a proper low range, and all kinds of protection underneath, although I had to add sliders to the slides. It was quite comfortable inside too.
Aside from trails that require more height than I had in it, that thing went anywhere the modded rigs went, and most often without having to use the locker as the brake lock diffs acted like a more effective limited slip right away. You didnt see this kind of wheel slippage at all. And a lot less when I engaged the rear locker.
Its not as roomy, but it was also damned good on the highway too.
I had a mk1 forester. I loved it. Tore the sump on a rock. My bad off road driving I guess. So I bought a jimny instead. 100x better off road, 100x worse on road. Same story with the Isuzu trooper I had next. If you’re planning on driving mostly roads and easy off road tracks, I’d recommend a forester any day. Much more civilised on road than a “proper off roader” and still fairly capable on the trails. Mine was incredibly comfortable too.
The few downfalls he spoke about. Computer. Relocate it to a higher position. Maybe improve door seals. For sure put on a snorkel.
Over all. This is a bad ass ride. I’d drive it!
Love how ya started the vid. I was LMAO at y’all!
Hahahaha best intro ever! 😂😂😂😂
Looking forward to an Eneos Grenadier video
Love this bullbar!
only thing i would have done different is go with a 15" rim and run some 215/75 tires. with the subarus limited tire fitment and lack of a "real" dual range transmission (i know these guys got the factory option of dual range) the extra sidewall from a 15" tire really helps.
Best thing about this car was the water/jerry can mod........
Yes been waiting for this!
really enjoyed this video Ronny. I loved seeing the other side of 4x4's too
Love it ! thank you for this informative video
Just looking at the size difference between you and him Ronny, if he actually tried to kidnap you lol
good work and hats off to the bloke for giving it his all - all i can say is good luck trying to find the next owner who would put value in all the add-ons to pay a premium for effectively a SUV. Can only think the 4x4 he'd have for the same investment that any 4wd purchaser would appreciate and pay extra for
Loved the start, the kidnapping act! Just brilliant mate! Fucken awesome! I very much love how Adrian defends his Subaru!! I would do the same! Big-up!
Some people seem to take their "real 4wd" a bit too seriously. Sure a Subaru cant go everywhere, but I had a whole lot more fun bashing my Outback around in the bush and having moments of; how the fuck did I make it up here? Than in my Colorado that Ive yet to take anywhere my old Subie couldnt go.
I did not know, Angus Young is also making chargers 😂
Fun to see a Subaru on modified!
You were so funny in this intro hahahahaha