We did it! We completed the TransAmerica Trail from Nags Head, North Carolina, to Port Orford, Oregon, in a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. It was a heck of an adventure spanning more than 7,100 miles with over 3,100 of that being unpaved. One question we get regularly asked is what modifications were made to the car. Well, I’m glad you asked! Here’s a rundown of the accessories and modifications to our TransAmerica Trail 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness.

Primitive Racing Skid Plates

Undoubtedly, one of the most critical modifications to this car was underbody protection. We had the Primitive Racing front, mid, and rear differential skid plates. They took some hard hits, and came back for more. Without them, we would’ve undoubtedly damaged this vehicle. We cannot stress their importance enough.

Rally Innovations 2024+ Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Light Bar Mount

We’ve used Rally Innovations‘ stout light bars in the past, both on the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness we used for the ’22 Alcan 5000, and on our own ’22 Subaru Crosstrek. These US-made bars are super durable and were a great home for a set of lights. Speaking of …

Baja Designs XL-R Pro LED Lights

Auxiliary lights can be extremely useful in low visibility situations, like dust, fog, or rain. We used the Baja Designs XL-R Pro LED lights in the dark forests of Appalachia and in driving rains in Arkansas. They featured a combo amber lens and helped improve visibility when we needed it most.

BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 Tires

We have BFGoodrich all-terrain KO2 tires on three of our four personal vehicles, and know and trust them. So we had to have them on the TAT Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. We had zero flat tires but carried a full-size spare just in case. We also ran a slightly bigger 225/65/17 tire vs. the stock 60-series rubber.

In addition to the above items, here are some of the other upgrades and modifications that made our TransAmerica Trail crossing successful.

Reika R15 Seeker Wheels

Our TAT Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness ran 17×8 (+38) Reika R15 Seeker wheels in satin black. These flow-formed wheels are strong, lightweight, and offer a classic five-spoke design. We run these same wheels in a 15×7 in our personal Crosstrek, too. We love the style.

Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0

In case we got mired in the Oklahoma clay or hung up on a boulder in Colorado, we used a Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0. Again, this is a product we know and trust, and use on our personal vehicles. While we didn’t need it, we were glad to have it just in case. Plus, the orange finish complemented the car nicely. We also used the Factor 55 locking hitch pin and carried their Kinetic Recovery Rope.

MAXTRAX XTREME Recovery Boards

Another bit of insurance we carried was MAXTRAX’s XTREME Recovery Boards. Tough as nails and with replaceable nubs, these can come in handy in stuck situations, and they were at the ready when we needed them. (The new MAXTRAX LITE boards would’ve also been a good choice for a Subaru.)

RiG’D Supply UltraSwing Spare Tire Mount

The RiG’D Supply UltraSwing Short Fit Hitch Spare Tire Mount with SideHack fuel can holder was great. It simply goes into the Crosstrek Wilderness’ rear 2″ trailer hitch. It allowed us to carry a full-size spare, five gallons of fuel, our MAXTRAX, and our Trasharoo. The optional drop-down table let us cook and work, too. Awesome (rattle-free) product!

Ecoflow DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station and 800W Alternator Charger

Having our own power station, the Ecoflow Delta 3 Plus, allowed us to power a Starlink, charge phones, laptops, and cameras while off-grid. With a 1,800W output, it offered plenty of juice. The 800W Alternator Charger was a game-changer. It would charge the battery bank while we drove. We could then send power from the DELTA 3 Plus to the Crosstrek Wilderness’ battery while camping, so we’d always have enough power to start the car.

ARB Classic Series II Fridge/Freezer

Another brand we’ve trusted for years is Australia’s ARB. We’ve depended on their fridge/freezers for well over a decade, so that’s what we brought with us. The Classic Series II fridge/freezer (50 qt) was able to keep our beverages, food, and even medicines at the right temperatures. From eggs and cream to meats and beer, our ARB fridge was on for 29 straight days with no issues.

ARB Soft Case Awning with Light 2.0M

We’ve exclusively used ARB’s variety of awnings on many of our vehicles, so we knew we’d want one on this rig. The ARB 2.0M awning is a 2,000mm (78.7″) unit that helped provide some much-needed shade from the unrelenting blazing sun we experienced.

ARB Single Motor Portable 12-Volt Air Compressor and Speedy Seal Tire Repair Kit

The ARB Single Motor Portable 12V Air Compressor was a vital component. We used it almost daily to help air up our tires after being on dirt or rock. We even helped a stranded motorist with it in North Carolina. The revised case is super durable, and the ability to stow the hose away from the hot compressor is a nice upgrade from the previous model.

In that same vein, we don’t go out on long trips without our Speedy Seal Tire Repair Kit. If we need to fix a flat tire, this is how we’d do it. It also includes spare valve cores and caps, a tire pressure gauge, and more. While we didn’t need to fix any tires, we used the tire pressure gauge nearly every day.

Bilstein B6 Struts and Rear King Springs

In the eleventh hour, we opted to swap out the car’s stock suspension for Bilstein B6 struts and a set of rear King lift springs, both of which came via Primitive Racing. This helped with the extra weight we had on the vehicle. We’d probably go with a taller spring in the rear next time, but even so, the combo was a great last-minute addition.

Quad Lock Phone Mounts

When you’re doing over 3,100 miles of dirt, gravel, mud, and rock, you need a secure place to mount your phones. We used the Quad Lock Vent Mounts, and they never let us down. Some of these smaller modifications can make a big difference, and this was the case here. Speaking of cases, we also ran their cases for our Samsung phones.

Thule Roof Top Tent and Cross Bars (via Subaru Accessories)

Last, and certainly not least, we used a Thule Approach rooftop tent and Thule cross bars on the Crosstrek Wilderness’ roof. Both came from Subaru’s accessory line. The tent was large, spacious, and kept the rain out when needed. It was very well made, too. The cross bars never loosened up and provided a secure place for “Château Crosstrek” when we were sleeping.