The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is Ready for Take-Off; But Are We? Taking on the TransAmerica Trail
Here's how we prepared our Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness for a grueling, 7,100-mile off-road adventure.
Not long ago I began to prepare to drive the TransAmerica Trail, a 7,100-mile off-road trail that spans the U.S. without a paved road in sight. I’m not doing this alone; my husband, Andy, and I are driving a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, provided by Subaru of America, from the East Coast to the West Coast.
No, we are not crazy.
We’ll be following dirt trails, driving challenging remote sections of the trail and crossing mountain passes. It’ll be the just the two of us in the Subaru—plus all our gear. It will be our longest continual trip together, which is remarkable; we drive a lot of rallies together. Andy will drive and I’ll tell him where to go, or rather, navigate, using paper maps, turn-by-turn instructions, and digital GPX files loaded on our Garmin Tread Overland Edition GPS device as a backup.
The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness currently being upgraded with BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires, beefed up with underbody protection, a rally light bar, a spare tire mount, a cooler, and a few other modifications. Once it’s ready, we’ll pack it up and truly go off the grid.
What else will we need for this trek? And why did we choose the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness over other larger SUVs? And, are we really ready for this adventure?
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness’s Upgrades Aren’t That Intense
Starting with the Crosstrek’s front, our Subaru will boast an American-manufactured Rally Innovations 2024+ Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Rally Light Bar mount made from powder-coated steel with stainless steel hardware. This Rally Innovations’ light bar mount can house up to four auxiliary lights, in which we’ll be running a set of Baja Designs XL-R Pro LED Lights.
Also manufactured in the United States, the XL-R Pro lights will boast both combo spot and driving attributes and will feature Baja Amber lenses, are IP69K-rated for waterproofness, and employ Baja Design’s latest LED tech. The Rally Innovations mount and Baja Designs LED lights create a quintessential combo. It’ll be critical to see large wildlife and our surroundings during darker hours, as well as see more clearly in dusty conditions.
Adding to the Crosstrek Wilderness’ factory capability will be a set of 225/65 R17 BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires. You’re only as good as the rubber you’re running on, which is why we have BFGoodrich KO2s on two of our personal adventure rigs. They’re solid off-roaders while still having good performance, pounding the pavement. BFG KO2s have beefy tread lugs and rugged sidewalls to help with traction. They also have a 50,000-mile warranty, so you can take many road- or off-road trips across the country with them.
Next to seeing well and having good grip over our month-long duration, we’re keeping the Crosstrek’s underbody safe by using three Primitive Racing Triple Armor Skid Plates. Primitive Racing is based in Oregon, and their skid plates are made there, too. Front, transmission, and rear skid plates are made from 3/16” 5052 aluminum. Not only will they protect our auto’s bottom, but they’ll also improve airflow and aerodynamics, too.
READ MORE: How My Husband and I Gear Up for the TransAmerica Trail in a Subaru Crosstrek
But, Wait! There’s More…
We’re also bringing a full-size spare tire in case we get an unrepairable flat. This will be mounted to a RiG’d Supply UltraSwing Short Fit Hitch Spare Tire Mount that will utilize the Crosstrek’s 2” hitch receiver (a Subaru-sold accessory). We’ll also carry four MAXTRAX XTREME recovery boards on the tire carrier, too. (Tip: The company’s new LITE boards work well for small SUVs and CUVs, as the Crosstrek Wilderness, too.)
The RiG’d SideHack will have a Jerry can mount for five gallons of fuel. We’ll also install a Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0 shackle bracket recovery point into the RiG’d Supply UltraSwing’s 2” hitch receiver in case we need to get recovered, too.
The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Accommodates Our Gear, Too
Andy and I also plan to use a few items from Australia-based ARB. Their Classic Series II fridge will keep our food and drinks cold, and their 2.0M Soft Case Awning With Light will give us shade and illumination when camped. ARB’s Single Motor Portable 12-Volt Air Compressor and their Speedy Seal Tire Repair Kit will round out tire duties with the BFGoodrich KO2 tires. We’ll also run satin black 17X8 (+38) Reika Seeker wheels (which we run on our personal 2022 Subaru Crosstrek).
On the charging front, we’ll be using an EcoFlow 800W Alternator Charger to keep the Crosstrek Wilderness’ battery charged continually. We’ll also rely on an Ecoflow DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station to charge devices, plus our fridge.
READ MORE: 10 Things My Family Loved About the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
The Crosstrek is Champing at the Bit to Get Going
We discussed why we chose the Crosstrek Wilderness for Part 1, but in case you missed it, it’s a logical choice for such a demanding journey. Yes, it’s all-wheel drive, but it’s also incredibly efficient. It averages close to 27 mpg combined, thanks to a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine generating 182 HP and 178 lb-ft of torque.
Its roof rails have a 700-lb. static load capacity, perfect for a Subaru-supplied rooftop tent as sleeping quarters. In terms of off-road capability, the Crosstrek showcases 9.3 inches of ground clearance, an approach angle of 20.0° for going over obstacles, a breakover angle of 21.1°, and a departure angle of 33°. This will help us conquer off-camber trail sections, rocky terrain, and trail hazards.
On the inside, this five-door AWD has 54.9 cu. ft. of rear cargo space (with seats folded down). It features StarTex water-repellant upholstery and a dual-function X-MODE including hill descent control. X-MODE has a Deep Snow/Mud Mode that creates a little wheelspin in certain situations, which is useful to keep motion happening in harder conditions. Snow/Dirt Mode allows the Crosstrek Wilderness to stay in lower gears, slowing the throttle and splitting torque evenly. It’ll also apply brakes to wheels that momentarily lose grip. Hill descent control will be useful for steep and uneven downhill portions.
The Crosstrek Wilderness’s black plastic wheel arches and side body cladding may not be attractive to some, but it’s instrumental for this mission. It will help keep the paint and body clear of tree “pinstriping” when driving through tight tracks. In short, the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness will be a great base to build on.
READ MORE: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Review: The Best Outdoor Companion
There’s Good Reason We Chose the Crosstrek Over the Other Wilderness Models
With three Wilderness models to choose from, each being perfectly capable of handling the TransAmerica trail, it’s reasonable to wonder why we chose the Crosstrek over the Outback or Forester. The Outback Wilderness, in particular, has the most cargo space, the highest factory lift, and a turbocharger.
The Forester has the second-highest lift, a taller ceiling, and more cargo space than the Crosstrek, too. It shares the same engine and transmission as the Crosstrek, too, so the Forester or Outback would both be extremely wise choices for this journey. However, there’s a reason we picked the Crosstrek: familiarity.
Both my husband, Andy, and I attended the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness first-drive event and were very impressed by its off-road chops and agility compared to the others. We own a 2022 Crosstrek (non-Wilderness) with a manual, so we are very familiar with its size and demeanor. We wanted to see how the updated Wilderness derivative would fare in a transcontinental off-road effort. Although it’s smaller in size than the Outback or Forester, its compact and nimble nature will suit this effort well.
READ MORE: Take a Ride on the Wild Side: Which Subaru Wilderness is Right for You?
Trust Us—We’re Not Crazy For Camping During the Summer
You probably noted that we’re making this journey at the beginning of summer. Summer is more than just bikini season—it marks the beginning of warmer daytime and nighttime temperatures, meaning sweat, discomfort, and more work for the Crosstrek while using the AC.
Since this is a trail system that goes through the deep south, up-and-over the San Juan mountains in Colorado, and in many other places, it’s suggested to do the TAT between June and early Sept. due to snowpack and winter weather and closed trails at higher elevations in other months.
Thankfully, we’ll have air conditioning in the Crosstrek Wilderness, but we’re taking precautions when we’re outside of the car for hot and muggy conditions
READ MORE: Find Freedom With a 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness
So, Why Did We Choose Subaru Over Other Off-Road Brands?
Knowing the trail is as long as it is with the obstacles it’s famous for, a first-choice for other couples might have been mighty 4×4 choices from Jeep, Toyota, Nissan, or even Honda. The Jeep Wrangler is known for capability, the Nissan Pathfinder has a powerful V6 and a responsive 4WD system with a terrain selector, and the Honda Passport or Toyota 4Runner would have been solid choices too.
However, Subaru is also known for its legendary AWD, and we decided, after loving the Crosstrek and being familiar with its underestimated capabilities, that this would be a perfect way to put the brand’s reputation to the test.
After all, we’ve off-roaded Jeep and Toyota 4x4s several times before. But we’ve never challenged a Subaru on a long-distance off-road endurance effort like this before. It’s the perfect platform to challenge Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system and see how capable the Crosstrek really is.
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