Subaru Crosstrek Mods After 1 Year of Ownership
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- čas přidán 31. 10. 2020
- Celebrating 1 year with my first Subaru, a 2019 Crosstrek Premium and I wanted to do a quick overview of the mods I've done to this capable (but slow) little bulldog in the last 12 months.
Though I'm not going into a ton of detail on the mods now, feel free to shoot me any questions you have about anything I've done and I'll do my best to answer. I might even try to feature it in an upcoming video :)
Quick Reference Guide:
1:08 - ScanGauge II
1:55 - GoPro Power Cable Behind Mirror
2:16 - Ham Radio & Dash Ram Mount
3:07 - Lidomount Seat Wedge (Ram Mount)
3:36 - Generic Phone Mag Mount on e-Brake
4:06 - Rear 12v Panel
4:32 - JL Audio Subwoofer
5:15 - Interior Rear Hatch Release Button
5:51 - Lift Kits
6:48 - Tires and Wheels
7:33 - Mud Flaps
8:20 - Curt Hitch
8:42 - Ham Radio Antenna and Mount
9:23 - Rear Gearbox Armor
10:21 - Engine & Transmission Skid Plates
11:04 - Diode Dynamics SS3 Fogs
11:49 - Warn Bumper & Winch
Thanks for watching and have a good one! - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Now that is one sharp Subaru. Looks amazing, that might be an understatement. Great video and thanks for showing all these modifications!
This is a really interesting set of mods that are rarely seen in the usual Crosstrek/Forester/Outback crowd. Ham radio, vehicle display, fire extinguisher, all useful and practical.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I'm generally more pragmatic in the stuff I do, but have been known to get carried away on the less practical stuff. Feel free to call me out on it if you see it LOL.
Respect for all the cool mods. The the confidence alone to push ahead with them I really admire. Enjoyed the video. Subscribed.
Thanks for the sub! I currently have my center console all removed and am doing a video trying to add a power center (12v socket and USB) for rear seat passengers :) So far so good. Hoping to wrap up this weekend.
Was hoping you would do one of these videos Tom! Outstanding! Great video and cool mods! Thank you!
Thanks for watching and glad you liked it! I learn more with each video and so far I've tried to err on keeping things short and to the point...but that comes at the risk of not getting detailed enough for some. I'm a detailed kinda guy, but also have a short attention span LOL...so I figure offer what I can and leave it open to feedback and questions to drive more detailed stuff where it's wanted. So, if you got any questions or are hoping I'll cover something else in particular, do please let me know. Thanks again and have a good one!
Thanks for your time I basically have the same armor to install in my car and after seeing your video I'm glad I have bought it and feel more confident in my decision .
Man that is the nicest Crosstrek I’ve seen! Beautiful, thanks for sharing!
Thanks much! I've got some more additions to it these days and as soon as the weather gets nicer I'm looking to do another walkaround :)Thanks for watching!
Wow, I started watching this with a bit of skepticism, however, you know exactly what you have and what you’re getting into. All points are expressed very well with great detail, I appreciate you doing a walk-around. I’ll be looking to do some similar ideas to mine.
Ha! I appreciate a skeptical mind :P Thanks for watching and glad you liked it. I'm looking forward to doing a fresh update soon with the latest mods. Stay tuned :)
Great video! Got a lot of ideas from it. Thanks for posting about adding the cvt temp. I too use a scangauge and that info will be great to add to it. Much thanks again! : )
Great mods, all clean looking installs!!!
Thanks much! Seems there's no end to mods lol. More to come I'm sure
Thanks, Tom. I forgot you had a Crosstrek so I was eager to see your mods. 73
Thanks for watching! I'll be doing a 2 year review soon ;)
hey man, great videos! looking forward to seeing what other mods you do and maybe when I get the courage to do some on my own, I might message you for some advice. Keep up the helpful content. thanks from everyone!
Thanks for watching! Sometime around the end of April I hope to do an 18mo mod update ;) I've done some things since this video and have a few fun things in the garage yet to tackle. Stay tuned!
Dude- fantastic mods. Not your run of the mill stuff you see people do to these. I really really like the usb and power outlet in the back. I just picked up an 18 limited two weeks ago. For as utilitarian as they claim the Crosstrek to be I couldn’t believe their lack of power outlets. Not to mention.. the impossible to get to USB’s in the center console. Just a dumb set up.
I can’t remember if you said you had a video on the power outlets but I’m gonna now start looking through your stuff.
Thanks for posting this!
Thanks for watching! Yup, my very first CZcams video was the installation of that power panel in the back. I enjoyed it enough that I kept going on creating CZcams stuff :) I couldn't agree more on the funky factory electronic setup. Seriously, what good is that 12v socket in the center console when there's not even a good way to run the wire into and out of it!? Another viewer suggested I try to install a power panel in the back of the center console facing rear passengers. I've added that to my list of ideas and will have to take apart the center console to see if there's enough room to do that. If so, look for it as a future video :)
BTW, congrats on picking up an 18 limited! Very cool! The limited has a few cool things that my Premium doesn't (LED headlights, fancier dash displays, etc...) that I wish I had. I hope you're happy with it.
Happy moding and have a good one!
Thanks for the review! Was interesting to your specs
Glad you liked it! This thing has been a lot of fun to mod so far. Makes for good content too so far :)
Awesome mods! I'm planning on doing some modifications to my 2020 Subaru Forester Sport
Great build you have! Need to get a lift soon on mine.
Thanks a lot Michael! I've got no regrets with the lift so far. It gave it a completely different stance and appearance, and has proven helpful on the trails where I'm sure the stock ride height would have bottomed out. I say go for it! They're not hard to install yourself if you have basic tools and some experience. Definitely get an alignment though afterwards. Good luck and thanks for watching!
Nice walk around!
Sub/amp mod video would get my interest!
Love that bronze wheel look- been checking out some myself.
Thanks for sharing , looks good
Thanks! And thanks for watching. I'll try to do a video on the powered sub soon. Might be more of a "reverse engineered" video since I already put it in and didn't think to record it (my bad), but hopefully it will be useful. Bronze wheel look is super cool in my book. I wasn't sure how it would look on this gray, but I'm really glad I got em. Have a good one!
@@TomtheDilettante for sure bronze looks great!
Really enjoyed the video! Nice Subi!
Thanks very much!
Nice mods looks great. I have an 2021 Impreza sport hatchback in manual. I added an solar 5 watt trickle charger wired directly to the battery. I just have it laying on the center dash which works out fine.
Nice setup on the rig Tom!!
Thanks much! Got more in the shop ready to rock and I hope to do a 1.5 yr update soon :)
Sick ass set-up. Great ideas
Great video Tom! Thanks for posting....great to see all the mods in one video. Looking forward to some of the catch-up videos also. Just got my rear hatch button and crimpers! Will be following along with your video on that this weekend. I am interested in getting new rims and tires but am concerned now after hearing you mention CV joints and axles. Never heard anyone mention that when talking about upgrading the TREK stock set-up. I may just go with factory size and just get better tires. The 2021 Crosstrek Sport has nice enough rims as is so I wouldn't mind just getting beefier more aggressive looking tires....save a few bucks too. Thanks again and looking forward to new vids! Good luck!
Woohoo! Good luck on the button install! Just remember, if your doors are locked, it acts just like the exterior button and won't function. I hadn't thought about that, but am glad it works that way :)
As for the CV joints and axles, I'm merely speculating based on limited experience. I figure, because of the lift, the distance between the gearboxes and the wheels is longer than it was designed for, and the CV angles are steeper than OEM. Add to that trail riding that puts greater than "normal" stress and articulation (what little the Crosstrek offers) and I simply wouldn't be surprised if they fail sooner than they were designed to. I've seen some XV forum posts where people say this can be an issue but I don't recall anyone ever posting an ACTUAL issue. Either way, I'm a "prepare for the worst and hope for the best" kinda guy. Expecting them to fail earlier than later might leave me disappointed, but at least not surprised :)
@@TomtheDilettante Ahhh....ok....gotcha! Thanks for the reply. I'm developing a greater understanding of all things suspension since replacing my coil springs and your concern is a valid one for sure. Of course, my Trek will most likely never see the type of trails you traverse but it helps to know about possible issues down the road. Thanks for your input and sharing with us!
I rarely ever comment but this video is GREAT. I’m about to hop on amazon right now and order that phone mount on the parking brake
haha...thank you very much for watching and the kind words. That little mag mount is one of those "little things" that just made a big difference for me. Sooo handy. I disliked fumbling with brackets, claws, clamps and the like. The mag mount worked great for me and I hope it works well for you too. Have a good one!
@@TomtheDilettante do you have a link for that phone mount? That’s an awesome idea!
great video and awesome setup Thanks
FYI, my lifted 2016 went about 80,000 miles before the cvj’s disintegrated. Yes, that’s the exact word. Love my crosstrek. I now have over one hundred thirty thousand miles on my car. Good luck. Stay well and safe.
Nice Trek! One more mod I must recommend is getting a Peddle Commander or iDrive USA throttle response module (I have the iDrive). Let me tell you, it completely gets rid of the throttle lag and def. wakes up the Trek! I was even considering trading my '18 Trek for the 2021 since it had more ponies, but this simple mod completely made change my mind! Look into it and you'll thank me! Haha. 🍻
Thanks for watching! Yeah, the iDrive is on my list. I've been back and forth on it since it's not really a performance mod but more of a throttle map "hack" :) Then again, I had a tuner that remapped the throttle curve and shift points on my old '06 F150 and it made it feel like a completely different truck. Hearing 1st hand experiences like yours is starting to push me towards getting one again. Thanks!
Excellent video, well spoken!
Thank you! Already looking forward to an 18 month update LOL.
Nice rig! Thanks for sharing!
BTW, the lift company is called LP Aventure cause it's located in Québec so it's French. LP stands for Lachute Performance (shop located in Lachute, Qc).
Nice. I figured it was French but didn't know the rest of it. Learn something new every day :) Thanks!
Ham is great, also GMRS is becoming more popular. I found your channel after looking for XV mods. You should look at the Overland Expo East or MOORE expo next year. It would be cool to see more Subaru and Hams represented.
This music had me feeling some type of way I love it
Right!? LOL. It's hard finding some good royalty-free music to fit a video. I think this had just the right amount of "bow-chika-bow-wow" to it to fit the intent. Thanks for watching!
@@TomtheDilettante yeah damm CZcams always trying to copyright strike people lol. I’m getting my wife a 2018 crosstrek and it’s coming on the 26th! She has no clue ! I drive a 2020 Tacoma and has tasteful mods for off-roading and the plan for the Subaru is the same :-)
@@desertwolfarmory Bad a$$!!! sounds like you win Xmas! And super jealous of the Taco! I love those things and hope to have one one day myself to mod for those places where a Subaru just can't go :)
Nice! You got lots of toys in there.
Ha! Thanks, and thanks for watching. It's an addiction to be sure. Stock is boring :)
I just found this channel, I have a 2016 and really need to start putting my ham gear in but afraid to pull off the panels. These videos make it look a lot easier. What kind of tools are you using to pull the plastic off, and do you have a video of installing the radio and antenna? Is your battery upgraded, my OEM battery won't last more than an hour on accessory.
I replaced my high and low beams along with fogs with diode dynamics SS2 pros and ss2. Makes a huge difference in lighting
Awesome walk around video, man. I really like some of the smaller interior mods you've done. You should definitely do a video on your GoPro power source on the windshield, that is a great idea, and I'm sure others will be doing that mod as well. I know I'm going to do that once I finally switch to a GoPro. I do all my shooting and editing from my iPhone, lol!
Thanks man! Done deal on the GoPro power source then. I'll put that on my list to cover real soon. Thanks again for watching!
Of course! I feel like we're feeding off of each other a bit, and I appreciate that, it gives me a lot of ideas as well :)
@@TheAdventureZombie I feel the same LOL. Glad it's not violating any type of CZcams etiquette. Maybe one day we'll be in the same neck of the woods and can hit some trails together. I'm contemplating a December trip to southern Utah (maybe Moab too) just for the heck of it .
@@TomtheDilettante For sure! I'm always down to hit the trails. I'm planning a cross country trip this month, and plan to do another climbing trip in CO next year as well. Moab would be sick though!
I have a 1st generation nissan rogue, but I didn't want the fire extinguisher inside to prevent anybody getting hurt by it in case of an accident. Instead I installed it by side mounting it on top of my roof basket on the right side with the handle facing the back. It gives it a more off-road look. I have a mini shovel mounted on the left side. I don't know if you want the white contrast, but my red extinguisher doesn't clash with the overall look. Think about placement up there. Nice vehicle.
Great video!
Great review!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Need to do a 2 year soon :) Coming October-ish
I’d be interested in a full HAM system install overview.
Roger that. It's not without its bugs at the moment. A lot of my aftermarket LEDs are causing RFI (interference) in the 2m ham band. So far no amount of ferrite beads seem to help so I'm back to the drawing board. RFI aside, a comms series of videos is on my to-do list. Seems like there's a healthy appetite for that kind of info and I enjoy it. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this video! I’m really interested in seeing how you installed the sub to the Trek. I want to do the same but have no clue how to do it. Even a simple explanation on how you tapped into the stock head unit.
Roger that. I'll put it on my list :) Fortunately, the powered sub I installed had both an option for a signal turn on as well as a typical remote turn on lead. So I tapped into a rear speaker out behind the head unit to act as a signal turn on. Sounds more complicated than it was, but I admit I would have benefited from a video too. As it was, I just kinda fumbled my way thru it until I found what worked :) I'll try to do this soon. Long term, I'd love to replace the factory head unit but need to do some research and save up some pennies first. Thank you for watching and have a good one!
I'll second this request, do the sub install video!
Id also love to see a how-to installing the sub or any further information like photos
Great video and mods! I am fixing to purchase the scan gauge 2 set up to read my 2021 Crosstrek cvt transmission temps and was wondering what the upper temperature range is. At what temp do you pull over and stop the car to let it cool?
I am also about to do the internal rear hatch open button mod (my first ever electrical mod) and already installed your bike mount phone idea.
Thanks so much!
Very nice.
Truth be known, i clicked hoping to see engine perf mods given its a pinch underpowered. Loved the rear speaker idea…
thanx
Nice walk around! What's your schedule (if any) for rotating in or out your full size spare? And did you get the regular or long RokBlokz mud flaps? Cheers!
great video! could you please link the magnetic phone mount??? that's genius
This is great man, thanks for sharing. I just got my 21 sport and loving it so far.
After watching this vid I have so many new items on the wish list. Where can I find the URL to get CVT temperature on the ScanGauge? Thanks again!
Yes, I would like to know. Thanks
Nice, clean build. Although I invested in performance mods instead of off-roading mods, a lot of the things you did are giving me ideas. I've been interested in getting into HAM radios for a year or 2 and your setup is definitely sparking that interest in me again! I would enjoy hearing more about this and how you use it, it would make original content.
Thanks for watching! You have any recommendations for performance mods that you feel made a good difference? Thanks also for expressing interest in Ham stuff. There's SOOO much to that hobby it's hard to know where to begin so I think I might just have to start with some basics and hope to spark interest :) Stay tuned.
@@TomtheDilettante Well, I think the easiest/cheapest thing to start with would be to replace the air filter with a performance one, it just makes the engine rev more freely. I was happy to notice a 1 l/100km reduction in my gas consumption when I changed my axle-back exhaust for a Borla, but no power difference. The one mod that really made a noticable difference in power on my MY14 was Crawford's Billet power blocks. It all depends on how much you want to spend :)
I’m a big fan of the Diamond K-412s months for antennas under 48 inch. Smaller footprint and no extra tabs
Nice! Haven't used those before, but just checked em out on DX Engineering. Might have to order an NMO version for my GMRS antenna. Thanks!
I keep a NOS tank in the back window of my Civic. It’s a plush tho. People love it and want one.
That's an AMAZING idea LOL! Folks would see that and assume my it brings the 0-60 performance of the Crosstrek finally in line with a '91 Sentra :P
Dude! I also added an internal hatch release button! The same black, metal, flush button. I have the same winch, but my friend helped me build a front bumper for it. It it heavy steel, so we added the rallitek springs to the front. I am also nose heavy now. Understeer city. I think that I'm going to get a tilt-down hitch tire carrier. The swing out ones are too expensive haha. I have a 2" lift with 245/65/17 KO2s.
Nice! I'm totally jelly that you got to custom fab a bumper. I wish I had the tools to bend tubing, and the skills to engineer one. I was thinking of the tilt-down hitch tire carrier too, but am leaning more and more towards the swing out. They're definitely expensive so it may be a bit yet, but I figure I'd like to have the option to hang out with the hatch open, prop up a table, and what not without having to step around a tire. We'll see. Again, would be nice to custom fab one of those too! Thanks for watching and have a good one!
@@TomtheDilettante I am thinking that maybe I could hammer out the inside of the spare tire well enough to fit my larger all terrain tire.
Thanks for the walk-around of your mods. I also have a ScanGuage, mine is ver 1, positioned exactly where yours is. I think version 1 and ll are identical in operation. I'd be grateful if you could give me a link to the codes enabling the Scan Gauge to read the CVT fluid temp. Thanks for the great videos.
Hi Rod! Thanks for watching. The link I used is below. I'm afraid I can't speak to the capabilities, similarities or differences between the I and II versions, but this worked well for me. Note, there's a comment on the CVT line item in the link below that mentions you need firmware version 4.22 or higher. Not sure if that would be an issue for you or not. If so, it looks like to only way to upgrade the firmware is to send it in and pay $25 (see 2nd link below). I could be wrong though as I've not had to do this personally.
Anyway, I do hope this helps a bit. Thanks and have a good one!
ScanGauge Codes: www.scangauge.com/x-gauge-commands/subaru-crosstrek/
Firmware Update Form: www.scangauge.com/shop/scangauge-upgrade/
I'm just learning about tires and wheels.... Your stock tires and wheels are 225/60 R17, right? How do you get the wider stance on your subbie? Do you use spacers? Would you recommend using spacers or no?
Nice looking build. It's a beauty!
I'd be very interested in seeing you do an amp and speaker upgrade to go with that sub. Stock is horrible.
Yeah, that's on my wish list of things to do. Speaker upgrades are easy and I might try to tackle that this winter. Amp wiring isn't my strong area, and I haven't found any good wiring diagrams on how to connect an amp to the stock head unit. That doesn't mean they're not out there though...guess I just have to keep looking :) If and when I pull the trigger on that mod you can be assured I'll put it up here. Thanks for watching and have a good one!
Need a "2 year of ownership update" now!
Yessir! That’s in my queue :-)
Nice setup! What plate did you use for mounting your yaesu radio and microphone to? I currently have mine attached to a 1” ram ball mount, but it would be nice to have the handset to hang next to it.
Hey Tom: do you have to lift the Crosstrek with those rims & tires set up? Can I just get the tires & rims set up and just mount them?
How is the noise on the highway with those tires?
Great mods man, good video and thanks for uploading this video.
Hey there! I honestly don't know if you HAVE to lift the Crosstrek for my tire / wheel combo. I did it at the same time. If your overall tire and wheel combo height is close to stock, then you shouldn't have an issue. If you run a larger combo (like I did) then you might run into rubbing issues. To be honest, even with my lift, I still rub a little bit on the fender liners. The clearance issue isn't vertically...it's horizontally. There's simply not a lot of space front-to-rear for too large a tire without cutting out body parts LOL. I just live with the occasional rub.
A good calculator for overall tire / wheel size can be found here: tiresize.com/height-calculator/
Plug in your OEM size and desired aftermarket parts and check out the overall size difference. you might be surprised to find that a lot of cool combos actually fall within 1/2" of OEM.
As for the noise...yeah, they're a little noisier, but to be honest, not bad at all....at least not in my opinion. My roof basket is the loudest thing I have and has probably drowned out any additional road noise from the tires to the point where it's not noticeable LOL.
Hope that helps a bit. Thanks for watching and have a good one!
Maybe add a couple electrical ferrets to the front lower lights. See if those cancel out the noise.
cool guy nice video. thank you
Thanks for watching!
Tom, I also have a Crosstrek and noticed on your recent 2023 video with Adventure Zombie that you acquired a new RiGd Swing Out Tire Carrier. I came back to this 2021 8:44 video as I thought that I remembered you had installed a Curt Hitch, did The new RiGd Tire Carrier work out ok with the Curt Hitch or did you have to modify anything? Also, after watching your channel I can’t imagine someone else installed the Tire Carrier… did you have any issues?
thx, Harry
Super Nice video. I am also a ham radio 2016 crosstrek operator/owner. I am liking your antenna mount. I have not decided where to mount my Yeasu FT-7900 mobile yet. Having a difficult time on location. Where did you run the antenna cable thru to the interior. I am thinking of using a water proof fuse system to mount in the engine compartment along with a 100 amp circuit breaker so as to be able to disconnect from the vehicle all together.
Thanks for watching! And yeah, finding a place to mount radios is definitely a challenge in the Crosstrek. I mounted my unit under the driver seat and the detachable face on my dash Ram mount as you saw. The antenna I ran thru the hatch, down the boot connecting the hatch to the body, along the roof liner, and down the a-pillar to under the driver seat. I chose to run the antenna line this way to avoid running it along and power lines and inducing RFI. It works okay, but I get some bad RFI on the 2m band from my Diode Dynamics fogs that I haven't been able to eliminate yet.
Anyway, the 7900 has a detachable face I think, so that might open up some options for you. Not sure if they sell a face plate mounting kit, but I would suggest looking into that if interested. The breaker idea is a nice one to isolate from the vehicle. I just rely on the power line fuses for now, but might consider that. I keep mine on a constant hot because sometimes I'll use the rig for cross-band repeat when camped and walking around with an HT.
Thanks again and have a good one!
Tom, the video that you made with adventure zombie, you had installed weboost on your trek. How do you run your wire inside the subie? Thanks,
Great video, nice mods. I realize this video is 2 years old now, but I'm wondering if you sorted the problem with the interference between the fog lights and the ham? Perhaps some shielding is needed, idk. And the spare tire on the roof rack, is it locked down for security or just clamped?
Forgive me for the late reply. Haven't figured out the interference yet. I think they're just really noisy. I've tried ferrite beads of the right mix for VHF/UHF, even tried torroids and wrapping the wires. Noise would reduce but not too much. The spare tires is just held in place by a ratcheting strap, but if I were to take it somewhere where I was concerned about theft, I would definitely bolt it down somehow. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video Tom, just wondering how much did you pay for the Warn Bumper & Winch and if all that came together as a set or you bought it separate?
The bumper and bull bar were about $730 and $170 respectively. Not cheap but about in the price range of most bumpers for this thing from what I saw. I actually bought it from Amazon because I had been saving up Amazon gift cards to offset the cost. You might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere (perhaps even direct from Warn) but I went Amazon because I had gift cards to apply to the cost. The winch was another $600 or so I believe. Also...not cheap. I've seen pics of rigs out there with winches from places like Harbor Freight which will be dramatically cheaper. There's other options as well in varying price ranges. I went with Warn because of their reviews and reputation. I figure "buy once, cry once", and I didn't want to risk failure of a "budget friendly" winch when I might need it the most. That's of course not to say that budget friendly winches can't or won't do the job just as well or maybe better. I honestly don't know. Just thought I'd share my rationale for why I went the way I did. To your last question, I bought them separately, but in a single Amazon order. So, it wasn't a bundle or kit or anything.
Thanks for watching! Hope that answers your questions and have a good one!
Regarding your noisy RF fog lights, have you looked into adding ferrite beads (cores) to the power cables close to the back of the lights? Ferrite beads are able to passively absorb high frequencies.
Yessir. As a matter of fact, the first step I took towards mitigation was to stack as many ferrites as I could with the remaining wire at the lights to see if it made a difference. Sadly, no. I'm new to Ham radio in general though so I'm still learning how to kill RF. I understand now why they say RF is the bane of any Ham LOL. I also get backup light RFI. Those lights are LEDs as well and the antenna is right in front of them so I'm assuming it's RFI from the LEDs. This weekend though I'm planning on attaching a separate mag mount antenna to see if there's any difference.
Anyway, I'm rambling. Thanks for the advice though! Really appreciate it. Someday I hope to figure it out and have a nice clean signal. Oh...oddly enough, the interference only seems to be on the 2m band. 440 is clean. Not sure what to make of that other than that's the range of interference from offending devices. Open to thoughts though.
so i just got my warn semi hidden winch.. my question is. how heavy is this thing on the car lol noticable while turning?? do you think it will cause premature break wear and suspension?? or am i worrying too much lmao
What all
Was done for the LED headlights, just plug and play or? Thank you!
We have the same mods including the winch and ham radio lol but I mounted my antenna above the tail light with a smaller trunk lip mount which has been working good, my CV axle went out at 46,000 miles which was last week so i had to replace both front axles.
bad a$$! have you had to use your winch yet? I have not. It's there "just in case" as I have a habit of doing stupid things LOL. Do you think your CV axles went out prematurely or is 46k miles about right for replacement? If premature, do you think the lift had something to do with it? That's my concern. I figure the more aggressive drive angles are most likely going to be shortening the life of those components, but I have no idea by how much. Living in the midwest, my trips to "fun" places means driving 1k miles west and 1k miles back just to play. I'm beginning to think I should carry a spare set of axles soon :P Anyway, thanks for watching and have a good one!
@@TomtheDilettante I think the lift shorten the life, I started to notice it after I put the lift springs on, I was running the LP lift kit for a while before the lift springs with no issues, and my winch was a life saver for me, I doing a hill climb and lost traction 3/4 of the way up the hill, the car slid sideways almost hitting a tree in the driver door about 4in away from crushing it, I had to get out of the passenger door, I was able to winch my way up the rest of the hill.
It’s a beaut and love the mods….I’m messing around with my new 22’…I noticed your highbeam/drls flicker (mostly noticeable with a digital eye) as well as your steering wheel dash…did you get that sorted out?
Thanks! I'm afraid not. My Crosstrek uses the same bulbs for high and DRL, and does so simply by lowering the voltage. Since most LEDs I've tried don't operate well at sub-optimal voltage, I get a flicker. I think there are some anti-flicker devices out there but I haven't tried them yet. I ended up putting OEM bulbs back in for the time being until I can find a creative and cost effective way to kill the flicker. Sorry I don't have a solution for ya just yet, but thanks for watching!
Hey Tom, does your Crosstrek give any errors from having something plugged into your OBDII?
Very nice and informative video, you got a new sub! I'm also looking to mod my 2019 Crosstrek, I wanted to know if a lift is required for that wheel and tyre size?
Thanks! As for the lift, it's a subject of much debate in the Crosstrek community. I have 225/75/15's and the main rubbing point isn't up and down, but laterally. I rub the inner fender wells on the front and rear a little bit, even with my lift. I've heard of some folks running my tire size with no lift without issue...others will do no lift and report rubbing that they've just learned to live with. Ya know...my wife has a stock 2019 Crosstrek. Maybe I should bolt my tire/wheel combo to her car and see LOL. I'll consider this for an upcoming Q&A video :) Otherwise, best I can do is report my personal experience and say I would recommend a lift with larger tires for added clearance, but that is still no guarantee of no rubbing. Hope that helps a little.
@@TomtheDilettante thanks, helps a lot gathering different opinions!
Thanks for the video. Just ordered a 2021 6 speed. I'm interest to know about your LED headlights. Do they blind oncoming traffic?
I get the occasional flash of lights but not that often. They are bright, but I've seen others that are more obnoxious. I may look to see if I can angle my lights down a little bit in an attempt to be more courteous.
why wouldnt you put the link to the accessories??
Can you shoot a link to the mount you used on the E-brake? Can't seem to find that exact one...
Ya know, I think this might have been one of those opportunistic buys at Menards and not Amazon because I can't find it in my order history. The closest I could find on Amazon is shown in the link below (just cut off the rubber grippy thingy). That plus a sticky metal plate on the back of the phone works great for me. Note: depending on the placement of the metal plate on the phone, it may interfere with cordless charging. I don't use cordless charging much myself so it's never been a problem. Just thought I'd let you know. Good luck and sorry I don't have the exact part used.
www.amazon.com/Universal-Magnetic-Mount-Motorcycle-Compatible/dp/B071F5882H/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=handlebar+magnetic+phone+mount&qid=1604872801&sr=8-6
Can you please put the name of the phone holder u have attached to the e brake
what trails do you use? I see you're from IL and I've been looking for good spots
Hi Noah! Sadly there's not much in IL. I usually end up going to northern Wisconsin, the UP or even further out.
New subscriber. How did you mount your fire extinguisher to the head rest. Please forgive me if you’ve already mentioned it.
Thanks for watching! The fire extinguisher mount is pretty lame to be honest. Some thick a$$ zip ties secure the bracket that came with it to the headrest legs. I plan on building a different mount inspired by something I saw on Instagram. If it works, that will be an upcoming video.
Can u put the link for the phone mount for e brake
Did you ever consider alternatives to the Curt Hitch? I've been eying the EcoHitch and Stealth Hitch because they don't stick out when not in use (i.e. easily detached). Did you notice any departure angle issues with the Curt?
if you havent bought one yet i would higjly suggest buying the OEM subaru hitch.. yes its more expensive but YES it is much sturdier.. not just 4 bolts to the underside of the frame. but actually inserts into the frame and bolts in multiple directions and places.. i am so happy i got it for my 23 crosstrek. it is well hidden and doesnt stick out far as well
you have to remove rear bumper however its super easy to do for car guys lol no lowering exhaust also
How are you keeping your spare tire on the rack
I'm embarrassed to say...but it's just a ratcheting tie-down LOL. I do need to fab up something better but would want to do it cheap. I'm thinking of getting a Prinsu or Front Runner rack in the future so don't want to spend money on something that may be short lived. That being said, maybe a down and dirty tire mount for a basket would be a good video idea :) We'll see. Thanks for watching!
Good stuff. What about that Ram Mount on the dash? Which one is it? Is it screwed right into the dash?
Hi John, thanks for watching. Yes, it's screwed into the dash. Check out the install video in the link below. Ram part number (RAM-TRACK-EXA-5BU) and link can be found in that video's description as well. Have a good one!
czcams.com/video/HLCqVnCjM4Y/video.html
@@TomtheDilettante cool thanks
warn bumper and winch are my next
Cool vid. What type of headlight bulbs are you running (dtr, lb, hb)?
Using some budget led headlights and high beams. Though I'm looking to replace them. The low beam leds are nice but the high beams don't work well as DRLs (they flicker). I'm definitely open to suggestions if you got em. Thanks for watching :-)
@@TomtheDilettante I was considering morimoto 2Stroke 3.0's for the drl/hb and lb but my concern with LEDs has been beam focus, throw distance, overall brightness, and color temperature. They're pricey and relatively new though so haven't pulled the trigger on them yet. Have the LED's been a noticeable improvement over the halogens in testing?
Illinois, hell yeah!
Well I don’t necessarily share the same enthusiasm for Illinois, I am always stoked to find cool people near me to chat up lol
Question: Does the Crosstrek tend to get hot when driving long distances? I am curious because I will be driving from Texas to California in November, and I just wanted to make sure beforehand.
If your Crosstrek is stock and you're driving normally (i.e., on blacktop and not redlining / speeding like crazy), and not towint anything then I imagine you should be fine. If you're towing something, I'm afraid I can't speak from experience as I haven't tried it yet.
I've driven my modified Crosstrek from Chicago to Colorado and Utah a couple times and it does get a little warm, but nothing that triggers a check engine light. The CVT (if you have it) runs warm according to my ScanGauge (up to 235 degrees F). The AC isn't the best. In near 100 degree weather, the AC kept me comfortable, but just barely.
Hope that answers your question, and have a safe trip!
@@TomtheDilettante that helps out a ton! Thank you. The New Mexico desert is no joke and Arizona especially June - July.
I just came back from Carson with a rav4 but it was very uncomfortable and a very loud road. I just got my Crosstrek yesterday, haven’t even got on the highway. I purchased some off road tires online and going to start the mods in the exterior. Thank you for your help! ✨
Any issues with brake caliper clearance and kmc wheels?
They're a little close but I haven't experienced any issues with them. Got about 14k miles on that tire and wheel combo without issues so far.
What do you think of GMRS. I want to do some form of radio
I like GMRS a lot. I have both amateur (Ham) and GMRS license. I actually did a video on GMRS (link below) sharing some things I think folks should know about the service. Ultimately, it depends on how you want to use radio. If it's solo, then your options are limited only by your preferences and budget. If you're planning on using it mostly for group comms, then I would start with what the group is most likely to be using. For example, if the groups you roll with operate mainly on CB, then GMRS won't get you anywhere. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
czcams.com/video/LVdAgAZgFLM/video.html
What resources can you share to learn more about HAM radio?
start but accessing ARRL, American Radio Relay League. Look for VHF and UHF bands....
where did you get the Warn Bumper & Winch?
I actually ordered these from Amazon. I found them on the Warn site, and just found the same part number and price on Amazon, and since shipping was cheaper on Amazon, I chose that route.
how is the cvt holding up?
holding up well so far! did a CVT fluid change at 15k miles after overheating it a couple times, and have since installed an aftermarket cooler. I'll be reporting on it soon :) Thanks for watchinv!
Your under armor - is it compatible with the fifth gen Impreza hatch?
Hey there! Sorry for the delayed response. I thought I replied to this but apparently I didn't :P I'm not sure about the fifth gen Impreza. I think that was the 1st gen where Subaru switched to their more universal platform which is shared by the 18+ crosstrek. What I don't know is how much is interchangeable vs unique to a particular model. I got my skids from RalliTek, and tried searching for Impreza armor and came up empty. So either they aren't marketing it for that model, or it legit doesn't fit. Not sure. In my experience though, RalliTek has been very responsive to inquiries if you contact them, so I'd suggest asking them or any skid plate manufacturer that you are interested in for their input on fitment.
I wish I could tell you for certain one way or the other, but the truth is I'm just not sure and don't want to mislead you :) Hope that helps a little.
@@TomtheDilettante that is correct, the fifth gen Impreza (17-current) is when they switched to the SGP chassis. Most things are cross compatible with the second gen Crosstrek. I wasn't sure which you had. I'll definitely give them a call.
Can you please link the magnet phone mount?
Ya know, if you're talking about the one I have clamped to the e-brake handle, I think that thing was one of those Menards or Home Depot end cap specials that I picked up on a whim for like $10. The closest thing I found to it on Amazon is in the link below. The clamp screw for the clamp I got didn't quite let it open up wide enough for the e-brake handle so I ended up just replacing it with a longer screw from a hardware store. It ended up working great and I still have it on to this day. Probably one of the best $10 experimental mods I did ;) Hope that helps point you in the right direction. In short, it was kind of a "hack" mod rather than something built for that purpose.
www.amazon.com/Universal-Magnetic-Mount-Motorcycle-Compatible/dp/B071F5882H/ref=sr_1_16?crid=8Z2N6I7NM3P2&dchild=1&keywords=handlebar+magnetic+phone+mount&qid=1613785275&sprefix=handlbar+mag%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-16
Which bull bar is that ?
That's the bar that Warn sells to attach to their semi-hidden winch bumper. I dig it, but in hindsight I think I would rather have gone with a bumper that gave me a better approach angle overall and exposed the front of the tires to help defeat steeper obstacles. I've smacked and dragged the bottom of this bumper quite a bit LOL
Where did you mount the radio body and how did you rout your power wire
Hey there! Radio body is under the driver seat. Head unit wire goes up thru center console and up to the dash. Antenna comes from hatch, thru headliner, down a-pillar and to under the driver seat. A couple folks have asked about this and I guess I'm overdue to deliver a short video on it :) I'll add it to my list. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the info and a video would be great I just got a new crosstrek and I want to put a kenwood TM-V71A in it
@@welder8309 Nice radio! I actually have the same Kenwood in my office as a base station. Use to be in the Crosstrek but decided to switch it out for the Yaesu. I realize I didn't answer your question about the power wire. I routed the power wire from the battery thru some space in the back of the driver fender so it pokes out by the door. I then ran the wires into the cabin thru the grommet / loom to the door. From there I routed it along the door sill to under the driver seat. Pardon me if I'm not painting a very good word picture :) I'll try to do a video on it soon to give you and others a better idea.
How about you review your awning.
Good idea. I've used it every time I've gone out since I got it. Really happy with it. Super nice to have some quick deployable shade.
so how are your CVs looking now 7+ months down the road?
So far so good. Boots are in one piece and I don't have any clicks, pops or clunks at any angle :) Fingers crossed! I am getting to a point where I think I'll feel more comfortable having a spare axle with me on the road along with the necessary tools to swap it out. Just in case. Then again, I'm paranoid like that LOL.
@@TomtheDilettante I was in an accident that broke my front axle in my 2013 and I had no idea when I drove it a few hundred feet to the parking lot
So with my lift on my Crosstrek My front CV joints finally failed after about 45,000 miles. Not a big deal but Subaru screwed up the repair. Pro tip go to a real mechanic or do it yourself if your able. I run a 2 inch ironman lift and 215/75/15 Ko2 tires
Oof! That's what I'm afraid of. I'm at 41k miles and am just waiting for the day when I start to hear the tell-tale clicking of CV joints failing. Did you go with OEM or did you find a good quality aftermarket axle for less?
Any rubbing with that tire size? Been thinking about running the same size
Any update on possible audio upgrade videos?
Thanks for the follow-up. It's on my list but I don't have a time yet. Likely this summer. Unless a company deems me cool enough to send free stuff I'm all out of pocket and I just can't seem to win the lotto :P I'm thinking of giving Crutchfield a call to see what they can recommend for a new head unit that ties into all the existing controls and then going from there. Got any suggestions or something in particular you'd like to see?
@@TomtheDilettante personally I've been looking at the 1400 nex or 4200 nex, but I'm also debating on throwing that much money at the headunit just to see the songs change reliably on the display. 🤣
Can you give me the link to your betake mag Mount you have .. I can't find it anywhere. Thanks
*Ebrake
I used this from Amazon. Had to get a longer screw from the hardware store (less than a buck) so it would wrap around the e-brake but it's such a handy and cheap mod to have :) Thanks for watching!
amzn.to/3wfthLo
@@TomtheDilettante thank you.. Love your videos sir.
Hey brother! Where in Illinois are you, I'm in Northwest and just got a new crosstrek!
Welcome to the Crosstrek family! I'm in Crook....errr...Cook county in the northwest burbs of Chicago. Having been to NW Illinois, I envy the open spaces and down-to-earth people right in your backyard :)
@@TomtheDilettante Hello neighbor! If you know of any good dirt roads to explore in Winnebago or farther NW Illinois, let me know, we should go for a cruise!
Hey Tom what roof top basket are you running?
Its an inexpensive Rola roof basket i ordered from Amazon. Wanted something inexpensive to experiment with to learn what I want / don't want in a roof basket. At the moment, im debating between a Prinsu or. Frontrunner. Both are pretty expensive but I've heard great things about both.
@@TomtheDilettante Thanks Tom. What are the dimensions of the one you have?
is cvt has problem?
no problems yet. Though I've changed the fluid once already in 30k miles and installed a transmission fluid cooler just to be safe. The only times I get worried about it is on long stretches of steep and loose inclines on trails where the CVT seems to struggle and get quite hot.
How much slower is the vehicle driving in the streets?
LOL! I feel like this is a loaded question. The thing is a bit of a slug to begin with. But...it's not much slower. I can definitely feel the added weight up front, but the stiffer springs help a bit. My wife drives a bone stock 2019 Crosstrek and I admit hers feels a little peppier. But, I'm happy with the current rig's versatility. Wish I could also afford an STi to have an option depending on the mood :) Hmmm...maybe I'll have to do a drag race between my modded rig and my wife's stock car. Bet that would be an interesting video ;)
@@TomtheDilettante that would be a great video. I’m sure that’s on everyone’s mind. The setup is good though. My plans for when I get mine would be similar. Everyone wants a nice setup but also stand out a bit