All-Terrain Tyres

Bridgestone Dueler A/T (P205/70/R15)

Aluminium sump-guard

Manufactured by SubaXtreme

This cast aluminium sump-guard replaces the (relatively ineffective) original plastic guard - which really only served to keep the engine bay clean.

The SubaXtreme sump-guard is extremely easy to install - perhaps the hardest part is unclipping the old plastic guard. Fitting the guard is then simply a matter of screwing on the four bolts (supplied) into the original bolt holes.

It wasn't all beer-and-skittles. Pictured (right) is a plate that was so deformed that the sump-guard's bolt did not screw in. Someone had jacked up my Forester using this plate as a base but did not secure it properly. I had to weld the plate back into shape (actually, a mechanic did the job). The moral of the story is: Anyone who does anything to your car, can ruin something

35mm Fender Flares

Manufactured by Bushranger Auto Gear Fitted by Active4x4

Towing Point Brackets

Manufactured by SubaXtreme

Towing point brackets replace the factory tie-down points and are much stronger. The package includes high-tensile bolts.

Towing point brackets are used as an anchor to which a 'snatch' strap is attached in the event that my Forester is bogged or otherwise unable to move (naturally, this has not yet occurred!).

The old tie-down is the grey object in the upper-left of the photo

50mm (2") Body Lift

Manufactured and installed by Scorpion Automotive

Many 4WD tracks require a fair amount of underbody clearance to prevent rocks and rough terrain from scraping underneath the vehicle and causing damage. My Forester came standard with 200mm clearance, but it soon became clear to me that this wasn't quite enough. With this modification, the body of the vehicle was basically lifted 50mm higher.

• Engine cross member
• Gearbox sub frames
• Tail shaft centre bearing
• Rear suspension sub frames
• Diff carrier
• Front and rear struts

Caster Correction Bushes

Installing the bodylift eventually forced me to replace the right-hand-side caster bushes. This was due to the right steering having a higher caster reading (3/4 degree out) from factory. This variation is actually within Subaru's specifications (+-0.75) and would not normally be noticed but was magnified by the body lift.
The symptom was a severe pull to the left.

Note: Because Caster is not adjustable on most vehicles, a normal wheel alignment may not detect this problem (the 'post wheel-alignment' performed as part of my bodylift, for example, did not detect the caster problem).

Replacement Front Bumper/Bullbar

Manufactured by SubaXtreme

Fitted by ARB Toowoomba

The SubaXtreme bullbar replaces the original plastic front bumper - giving a significant increase in approach angle in addition to frontal protection.

The colour I chose is 'Antique Silver' which uses a gloss-black base with scattered silver ripple (Hammer tone finish). Now my Forester is starting to look like a serious off-road machine (if that was ever in doubt)

Spotlights

Nane NiteStalker 215 series

Installed by All Terrain 4x4 in Toowoomba

I installed these spot-lights mainly to enable me to continue driving when stuck in the middle of the bush at night (driving slowly to avoid wildlife of course)

They also look good - although this observation made little bearing on my final purchase decision...

All-Terrain Tyres (Take 2)

Kumho Road Venture A/T 825 (P225/70/R15)

Radiator Fan Controller

SubaXtreme