Why?

[Duck Vader]

All the parts are in. Picking them up Wednesday morning. Plan on installing most if not all on Saturday afternoon.

So if you are free I could definitely use a hand.

[Duck Vader]

Got bored this morning. Installed fuel tank and transmission skids as well as the cross bars.

Will wait for Steve to come down and give me a hand before I install the hitch and under engine guard.

Could easily do them myself but a 2nd set of hands would make things go much quicker and smoother.

[Duck Vader]

Cross bars:



Transmission Skid:



1 of 2 Fuel Tank Skids:



Rear Diff Skid:

[Chris GTO TT]

[Duck Vader]

Reading over the instructions for the hitch and I noticed something interesting.

For aftermarket hitches, they all look like they install on the 6 bolts that hold the rear bumper beam in place. Basically you removed the beam, slide the hitch in between, and remount the beam.

HOWEVER, the OEM hitch requires removal and discard of the rear beam. The hitch attaches by removing the beam, installing brackets into the FRAME, and installing the hitch to those brackets. The new hitch sits where the beam was instead of below it like the aftermarket ones.

Interesting if you ask me.

OEM hitch install on a Onyx XT - same as mine, but my rear bumper is different so the fascia is cut/set up different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vrrgRtzufg

Aftermarket Curtis Hitch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE3AvtgLPrE

[vr4]

[quote=""Duck Vader""]Reading over the instructions for the hitch and I noticed something interesting.

For aftermarket hitches, they all look like they install on the 6 bolts that hold the rear bumper beam in place. Basically you removed the beam, slide the hitch in between, and remount the beam.

HOWEVER, the OEM hitch requires removal and discard of the rear beam. The hitch attaches by removing the beam, installing brackets into the FRAME, and installing the hitch to those brackets. The new hitch sits where the beam was instead of below it like the aftermarket ones.

Interesting if you ask me.

OEM hitch install on a Onyx XT - same as mine, but my rear bumper is different so the fascia is cut/set up different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vrrgRtzufg

Aftermarket Curtis Hitch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE3AvtgLPrE[/quote]

Interesting that they're removing a crash safety device

[Duck Vader]

That's what I thought too but guessing it's designed to work like a rear beam when hit and crumple?

Maybe both together is too strong and doesn't allow it to crumple properly either?

Been this design for a few years now it looks like

[Duck Vader]

Thank you again Steve. Appreciate the help.

Now it's all set and ready to go for one hell of a trip.

[Duck Vader]

I know I technically don't need it, but every time I see a lifted subaru I want to lift mine and put bigger tires on.

[Chris GTO TT]

Yours is already lifted just put the bigger tires on. Most run 245/65/17

[alienviking]

[quote=""Duck Vader""]I know I technically don't need it, but every time I see a lifted subaru I want to lift mine and put bigger tires on.[/quote]

You have clearly lived in Oregon too long.

[Duck Vader]

Quick little copy/paste job just to get an idea - but thoughts on these wheels?

[Chris GTO TT]

Those are my favorite LP wheels

[Duck Vader]

I think they might look good with the other bronze accents on the wilderness.

Those stock tires just look so small. If I put bigger on I'm going to put aftermarket wheels on with them so I can swap back to stock when needed.

[Jeff V.]

I like those.

[Duck Vader]

I think I'll get the lp1 wheels but stick with black. The more I look at them the more I prefer them in black.

I'll get them with the 245 65 17 ko2s more than likely. The geolandar is a better overall tire because of better road manners but the ko2 performs better off road and in mud/snow.

Still toying with the idea of a 2" lift. Haven't decided yet on that part.

Not buying anything right now, but once I get a job I will.

[Duck Vader]

Looking into more I might stick with the geolandar. The ko2 weighs about 10 lbs more per tire and although would be better off road i do spend most of my time on road.

Hmm

[Chris GTO TT]

I'd look into the Falken AT3 or AT3 Trail and seem to be highly acclaimed by my off-road groups from trucks to Subaru and everything in between.

[Duck Vader]

I've seen those mentioned too. I'll check them out.

[tabasco122]

I pretty much settled on the wildpeaks