Subaru OutbackOverlanding Guide
Camping trips, ski trips, and dirt roads without buying a truck.
What It's Great For
What the Subaru Outback does better than a truck, and where it stops.
The Outback reaches most trailheads and campsites, costs far less to run than a 4Runner or a pickup, and the back is big enough to sleep in. The trade is that it is not built for rock crawling or heavy gear.
- Sleeping inside the carThe seats fold flat into a space adults actually fit in, something no pickup and few SUVs offer. Conversions run 13 to 1 in favor of sleeping inside over rooftop tents.
- Driving gravel and forest roadsAll-wheel drive and 8.7 inches of clearance get you to the trailhead without the ride, fuel, and price of a truck. Not rock crawling.
- Ski and snowboard tripsAll-wheel drive is standard on every trim, which is why it is a ski-town staple and the National Ski Patrol's vehicle for 25 years.
- Towing a small camperRated for 2,700 lb, or 3,500 with the 2020 and newer turbo. Owners tow teardrops in the 750 to 1,900 lb range with room to spare.
What to Upgrade First
The six upgrades that show up in almost every Subaru Outback build, with the products owners recommend.
1.All-terrain tires
The first mod in almost every build thread, in the 225/65R17 size that came stock on 2016 to 2025 cars. The community splits three ways: quiet comfort, deeper tread, or the factory Wilderness tire.
"About the same as the Duellers in the city, and quieter on the highway. Probably the best matched tire for the Outback out there."Outback owner after 1,000 km on the Wildpeak A/T Trail, SubaruOutback.org
- Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail the quiet-comfort pick, more capability with no noise penalty
- Toyo Open Country A/T III the deeper-tread pick, more tread than the Wildpeak at the same weight
- Yokohama Geolandar G015 the factory Wilderness tire, the one owners keep rebuying
2.A place to sleep
The build that makes an Outback an Outback. A mattress sized to the cargo area, or a platform that levels the floor and adds storage underneath.
- Luno AIR Pro Mattress made for the exact cargo dimensions, 2020 on
- Deepsleep Solo Mat one-person foam, no inflating
- Colfax Campers Platform Kit flat sleep deck with storage under it
3.Lift kit and load springs
Two inches is the community's hard ceiling, and most of the value is in the first inch and a half. Owners hauling camping loads pair it with rear overload springs to stop the sag.
- RalliTEK 2" Lift Kit the brand owners moved to after budget kits burned them
- RalliTEK Rear Overload Springs the camping-weight sag fix
4.Roof rack
For crossbars and light loads, not tents. The rails' moving limit, 176 lb on most generations, shapes everything on the roof.
- Prinsu Roof Rack low-profile full-length platform
- Thule WingBar Evo crossbars for boxes and carriers
5.Trailer hitch and wiring
The single highest-volume Outback accessory at retail. Half of them never tow, the hitch carries bikes and cargo trays.
- Draw-Tite Max-Frame Hitch 772 verified retail reviews
- Curt T-Connector Wiring 3,733 verified retail reviews
6.Mud flaps
The cheapest mod with the most fans. Rally Armor makes a kit for every generation, including Wilderness-specific colors.
What Owners Regret
The mistakes Subaru Outback owners warn each other about, in their own words.
1.Putting a roof tent on the rails
The manual rates the rails at 176 lb while driving. A tent plus two adults is far past that, and it is the forum's most repeated hard lesson.
"I was told it would handle a RTT (and ppl+pup) no problem. Today I am going through the manual and read both the dynamic and static weight for the rails are 176 lbs."2022 Onyx XT owner, SubaruOutback.org
2.Cheap or oversized lift kits
Kit quality decides whether you enjoy the lift or fight it, and 2 inch kits can introduce driveline vibration that 1.5 inch kits rarely do.
"I put the Ironman lift kit on my 22 Wilderness and lived to regret it, 3 of the 4 struts failed within 2 years and had to be replaced."Wilderness owner who rebuilt with RalliTEK, SubaruOutback.org
3.Underestimating the fuel cost
The consistent finding across owner reports: the tires and roof gear cost more mpg than the lift itself.
"Prior to the lift I was getting 22-23MPG; currently averaging 18.9 with the onboard calculator."Owner running a 2" lift with all-terrain tires, SubaruOutback.org
4.Building it like a truck
Winches, steel bumpers, and heavy gear eat a payload budget a heavy build runs through fast, and the forum's consolidated overlanding thread warns that overloaded Outbacks break suspension parts. Build light. That is the whole point of this platform.
"You cannot realistically overland in an Outback in the way in which overlanding is presented on truck forums or you tube videos. You will run out of payload, ground clearance, or even break things like control arms."From the forum's consolidated overlanding thread, SubaruOutback.org
Common Questions
The questions every new Subaru Outback owner asks, answered from owner reports.
Can I put a rooftop tent on the roof rails?
Manuals rate the rails at 176 lb while driving on most generations, and some crossbar setups lower. A tent plus bedding is already near that before anyone climbs in. Owners who learned this the hard way sleep inside instead, and the sleep setups in the upgrades list above exist because of it.
What is the biggest tire I can run without a lift?
235/65R17 fits with no rubbing and still fits the spare tire well. Owners run 245/65R17 on Wilderness wheels without rubbing, but it will not fit the spare well, and 245/70R17 rubs.
Will a 2 inch lift hurt my CVT or axles?
A 2 inch lift can introduce driveline vibration that 1.5 inch kits rarely do, and fixing it adds parts and cost. Kit quality matters as much as height. The community treats 2 inches as the ceiling.
How much mpg will I lose with all-terrain tires and a lift?
Owners report anywhere from about 1 to 5 mpg. The consistent finding is that the tires and roof gear cost more fuel than the lift itself.
Can I drive it on the beach?
Yes, and owners do it regularly. Air down to roughly 20 to 25 psi in most sand, keep momentum, and bring a compressor to air back up before pavement.
Can it tow a small camper?
The rating is 2,700 lb, or 3,500 lb with the 2020 and newer turbo engine. Owners tow teardrops in the 750 to 1,900 lb range happily. On the turbo, the manual requires 91 octane or higher while towing.
Should I buy the Wilderness or build up a lower trim?
The forum's consensus: buy the Wilderness if you off-road often or want the sturdier roof setup. If dirt roads are your ceiling, an Onyx XT plus all-terrain tires covers most of it with better fuel economy.
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