Circa 2009, a young Jon was researching Consumer Reports for the best family vehicle to buy. A soon to be stay at home dad with a passion for road trips, choosing the 2010 Subaru Outback was a no brainer. The Outback 2.5 Limited Azurite Blue Pearl Metallic Generation 4 model is not your average station wagon. The options are endless to add aftermarket parts and that’s exactly what Jon did.
For the first 5 years of owning the Subaru Outback, Jon never added one single modification. Since then he’s added over 40 mods to the Outback exterior and interior. About 100K miles later, the Outback has traveled all over the Midwest including marathon trips to both the east and west coast.
Subaru is not just a car, it’s a lifestyle. Jon enjoys the Subaru culture by helping run Fl4tfest, the Midwest’s largest charity Subaru gathering. Subaru Fl4tfest started as a small cars and coffee collaboration. Now Jon organizes a major capstone of the event which includes overlanding, off-roading and Subaru rallycross.
Jon’s Outback is not the most exciting in terms of exhaust notes and performance. It’s also not the prettiest car in the garage. But the utility is bar none for off road adventures and extra fun on the weekends. The Subaru gets him to every single outdoor activity he wants and holds all of the adventure gear he needs.
Subaru Outback Mods
Exterior Mods: 17” Rota Recce Summer wheels, Matte Black wrapped in Nokian Tyres WR-G4-SUV tires (Triple Peak Rated), 17” Sparco Terra Winter wheels, Gold wrapped in Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R3 snow tires (Triple Peak Rated). Yakima MegaWarrior Roof Basket, Slim Shady Awning, Ski Rack, Full-Swing Hitch-mount bike carrier, 2” Curt Hitch with Rhino USA Shackle Hitch receiver, DIY Combo Plastidip/Vinyl Full Chrome-Delete, Matte Black Jeep “Trail Rated” and “4×4” custom badging, OEM STI badge and Overland Bound Member Badge. Subaru OEM Hood Wind Deflector, WeatherTech Window Rain/Wind Deflectors, EZ Flares 1” Custom Fender Flares and Primitive Racing Front Skid Plate.
Orsini Vinyl Subaru Emblem Black Carbon/Yellow Overlays, Custom Powder Coated Yellow Front and Rear 3/4” VanBeest “D” Shackle Tow Hooks, Rally Armor Mudflaps, SSD Performance bumper-mounted light bar with Amber Baja Designs Squadron Sport LED Pods. Element LED 6” Overlander XL Halo LED Pods with Yellow LaminX film, Amber Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro Foglights OEM location, Anderson Design Fabrication Ditch Light brackets, Element LED Amber Canon Ditch Lights, Midland USA 3db Ghost Antenna, Ditch light bracket and Hella Sharp Tone Horns. Lasfit Autolighting LED bulb upgrade to high and low beams, turn signals, puddle lights, and license plate lights. Diode Dynamics XPR90 LED Reverse Lights.
Interior Mods/ Recovery Gear: 35% Driver and Passenger Window Tint, DIY Paracord Wrapped Steering Wheel, Midland USA MXT-275 GMRS Radio, Diode Dynamics full interior bulb upgrade, OEM Dog Divider, Diode Dynamics LED Trunk Light Strip, Viar 85p Air Compressor, GoTreads traction/recovery boards, Voodoo Offroad Kinetic Recovery Rope and Midland USA ER310 Emergency Crank Radio/Charger.
Subaru Outback Phone Mount
Jon was skeptical at first about keeping his iPhone mounted higher up on the side curtain for navigation. But when you’re going down a blind road at 40mph, it’s better to have a reliable phone mount for navigation. The a-pillar mount keeps his smartphone in perfect line of sight and not looking down away from the road.
Previously he was using magnetic mounts stuck with 3M tape directly to the dashboard. They would fall off into his lap over and over again at the worst times. Now his custom phone mount is tough, rugged and built for the bumpiest roads. The ProClip USA Left mount keeps his phone in a safe line of sight for navigation on long trail rides.
