It is a recurring theme that Subaru vehicles excel in all types of driving conditions and situations, making them easily capable of tackling some of the most challenging off-road trails around the world.

When Andy Lilienthal, a contributor to OffRoad Xtreme, and his wife, Mercedes, decided to undertake the more than 7,100-mile trek across the TransAmerica Trail (TAT), they chose a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness to complete the journey. This trail starts in Nags Head, North Carolina. It winds its way out to Port Oxford, Oregon, at the opposite end of the country, where drivers will encounter massive elevation changes, reaching heights of more than 12,000 feet above sea level.

The Crosstrek Wilderness has a 4.11 final drive ratio compared to 3.70 in other Crosstrek trims, along with an extra six-tenths of an inch of ground clearance (9.3 vs 8.7), thanks to special suspension components, an additional 2,000 lbs of towing capacity to 3,500, and the ability to carry 165 lbs of dynamic weight and 700 lbs of static weight on the roof. Static is the amount of weight the roof can handle when the vehicle is not in motion, whereas dynamic is the limit of the roof when the vehicle is driving.

Before starting the trip, Andy needed to make a few modifications to the Crosstrek to protect the vehicle and provide added peace of mind. This is a very long and treacherous trip, so ensuring your vehicle is fully ready is vital. The standard Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires, while great for mixed on- and off-road use, were swapped out for the BFGoodrich K02 all-terrain tires, which the writer has used in the past for these types of drives to great effect. Protecting the underbody of the Crosstrek was important, so a set of 3/16-inch-thick aluminum Primitive Racing front, mid, and differential skid plates were added to make sure no major surprises happened when crossing rough terrain. Of course, lighting would need to be addressed as well, so a front bar with LED lights was added for safer nighttime and low-visibility driving, such as through smoke and dusty conditions.

The final set of upgrades included adding a spare tire mount to the hitch, which allowed the couple to carry a gas can and a folding table for preparing meals. Because the roof tent and extra luggage added weight, the author swapped the suspension out with heavier-duty Bilstein B6 front struts and King lift rear springs to ensure even suspension travel and prevent bottoming out with the 200 pounds worth of added gear being carried across over 7,100 miles.

During their trek up to the San Juan Mountains, they came across the Cinnamon Pass, which has a 12,640-foot summit. They got up the mountain with relative ease, with the author saying, “A man in a Toyota Tundra came over and asked, “How’d you get that up here?” Inferring we must be slightly insane to attempt this in a Subaru. We’re seasoned off-roaders and, truth be told … the Crosstrek Wilderness impressed us with off-road capability.”

In the end, the author and his wife traveled a total of 7,163 miles over some difficult terrain through many states over 29 days. On the trip, 3,184 miles were spent on unpaved roads, which is roughly 45%. In that time, Andy and Mercedes helped a stranded woman living off the grid who had run out of battery and had a dead phone, had to make their way around downed trees on different driving paths, dealt with severe weather, and then some, and still found it to be one of the most rewarding drives they have ever done. They loved being able to see America from a different off-road perspective.

“While the TransAmerica Trail isn’t the best-known route for four-wheeled 4x4s or AWD vehicles, it should be on your bucket list of overland trips. You’ll see the USA from a new viewpoint and likely have an adventure of a lifetime, without even having to get a passport. And yes, you can even do it in a Subaru.”

While you don’t have to be looking to make long-distance off-road treks to get behind the wheel of a new Subaru from Twin Falls Subaru, it certainly makes your life more fun and adventurous knowing you have a vehicle that can keep up with all of the things you want to do in life.

Twin Falls Subaru is proud to offer our customers not only hundreds of new and used vehicles at the best possible prices, but also the best services around. Our fantastic sales team and finance department will work hard to find the best car for your needs. Our dedicated service department will always ensure that your vehicle is taken care of in the best way possible.

We look forward to serving you soon.