Subaru Forester Wilderness Camping Build Update

Update on my Subaru Forster Camping Build, with the addition of the tent to the rear hatch, for extending the living space. Camping at Aguiree Spring Recreation Area located between Las Cruces and White Sands, New Mexico. At an elevation of 5,000 feet, these 55 first come, first-served campsites offer great views of the Organ Mountains and cost $5 for park entrance and $7/night for camping. Vault toilets, fire rings, and covered picnic tables are available. The narrow, curvy roads and smaller sized camp sites accommodate passenger vehicles, and smaller trailers and RVs. #visitlascruces #newmexicotrue

[@tinabeane]

I've camped there, what a beautiful place.

[@VintageHikerLife]

It really is!

[@Jaypher]

Great video and breakdown of the setup!

[@VintageHikerLife]

Glad you liked it!

[@sharonnewberne3881]

I love this! Awesome! Great views!

[@VintageHikerLife]

Thank you!

[@markreynolds3850]

👍👍

[@cstacey9163]

Thank you, nice video and great campsite. Question: can you keep your rear hatch open for long periods without draining your battery ?

[@VintageHikerLife]

Excellent question! I use a small screwdriver to push the rear latch up, to 'fool' the car thinking that the rear hatch is locked. Then, when we get ready to leave the campsite, I manually push the rear hatch down gently, close to the latch, and hit my power lift gate button inside the vehicle to move the hatch up and down a couple of times and then the rear hatch mechanism unlocks and hooks back up to the latch, and the rear hatch returns to its closed position.
Does this answer your question? If not, I may add a video to show what I do instead of explaining in words...if you do not 'fool' the vehicle into thinking the rear hatch is closed and locked, when in fact, it remains open the entire time camping, then, yes, it will drain the battery...I know of others who had that problem, and now do what I do..
I didn't want power rear hatch but it comes with the Wilderness edition...

[@cstacey9163]

@@VintageHikerLife I just took purchase of a 2022 Outback and want to camp in it and I love the tent idea. I need to look at the latch on the hatch and see if I can figure out how you did that with the screwdriver.

[@VintageHikerLife]

@@cstacey9163 Let me know if you have any more questions...just use the screwdriver, or for that matter, anything that is strong enough to just 'flip ' or move the locking mechanism from the unlocked to locked position...I do not use my finger for fear of pinching my finger into this lock😉

[@overlandsubaruinternationa2378]

check mon build love your