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We are #UnitedByHorsepower.
@andy_lilienthal & @mercedes_lilienthal
Our rigs: #TravelTractor, #TerraTractor, and 2022 Crosstrek
#crankshaftculture

This will be our TransAmerica Trail car. It will b

This will be our TransAmerica Trail car. It will be our home and transportation for 7,100 miles and 3-5 weeks as we cross the continent on as much dirt as possible starting next week. The car was in the @subaru_usa booth at @wickedbigmeet where we got to talk with a bunch of Subaru enthusiasts and see old friends too. Can't wait for this epic journey, which starts in T-minus seven days!

It's a @wickedbigmeet kind of day! We, @andy_lilie

It's a @wickedbigmeet kind of day! We, @andy_lilienthal and @mercedes_lilienthal, teach our tech seminar (12:30-1:25pm at the Learning Center), and we get to meet our TransAmerica Trail Subaru! If you're in or near the Stafford Springs area, stop by and check out the show! We'll be in the main @subaru_usa booth with the TAT Subie.

After several months of planning, our 2025 TransAm

After several months of planning, our 2025 TransAmerica Trail (TAT) @subaru_usa Crosstrek Wilderness is REVEALED! Also, the vehicle will debut at the main Subaru booth at this Sunday's @wickedbigmeet in Connecticut!! If you're nearby, stop by, say hi, and enjoy the event! We can't wait to meet it.

Plus, we, @andy_lilienthal the driver and @mercedes_lilienthal as the navigator, will be hosting a tech seminar at Wicked, too! Here are class details:

•Subject: time-speed-distance (TSD) rallying and overlanding 101 (detailing our TransAmerica Trail trip and key vehicle upgrades)

•Where: The event is held at the Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT (our class will be at the ground's Leaning Center during the event). The TAT rig will be among the other rally cars.

•When: June 8, our seminar is from 12:30pm-1:25pm (double time slot), event gates are open from 9:00am-5:00pm.

Our cross-country journey will be primarily off-road and will take about one month. We leave mid-June and are in the final stages of preparation! Stay tuned, MUCH more to come.

@subaru_usa
@bfgoodrichtires
@bajadesigns
@rallyinnovations
@primitiveracing
@arb4x4usa
@rigdsupply
@ecoflowtech
@reikawheels
@maxtraxhq
@factor55

Good news: Oregon State Senator Anthony Broadman (

Good news: Oregon State Senator Anthony Broadman (@broadmanfororegon ) has introduced legislation to legalize kei vehicles for road use. The bill, SB1213, has bipartisan support in the Beaver State and hopefully will garner more attention from other lawmakers. Be sure to write your representatives and tell them to support SB1213. More at link in bio.

The TransAmerica Trail (TAT) is not a rally or a r

The TransAmerica Trail (TAT) is not a rally or a race. It's a network of off-road trails, farm roads, gravel tracks, and other public back country roads that anyone with a capable vehicle or moto could traverse at their own time. We, @andy_lilienthal, as driver and @mercedes_lilienthal as navigator, will be tackling the entire east-to-west cross-continent section—together, without any outside support. We'll be starting at Nags Head, NC, and head towards Port Orford, OR piloting a mildly modified 2025 @subaru_usa Crosstrek Wilderness.

This AWD vehicle boasts 9.3" of ground clearance, an approach angle of 20.0°, a breakover angle of 21.1°, and a departure angle of 33°. We’ll likely use every bit of it. One of the most important things we'll use is reputable rubber. Our trusted tire company of choice is @bfgoodrichtires. All of our personal rigs wear them (KO2 all-terrains and KM3 mud-terrains), and over the years, we've put them through their paces with resounding success. Our Crosstrek Wilderness will be running 225/65 R17 BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires that'll be wrapped in @reikawheels satin black 17X8 (+38) Seeker wheels. This is the same setup we have on our personal 2022 Crosstrek, but it is a slightly different size.

We think it'll be a winning combo to tackle multiple thousands of off-pavement miles. Stay tuned! Much more to come as we finalize TAT prep and pack everything up.

Just over two weeks until our cross-country off-ro

Just over two weeks until our cross-country off-road effort! Here's a high-level walk-around of a 2025 @subaru_usa Crosstrek Wilderness and what our plans for TransAmerica Trail exterior upgrades will be.

Driver: @andy_lilienthal | Navigator: @mercedes_lilienthal

Exterior upgrades:

@bfgoodrichtires
@bajadesigns
@rallyinnovations
@primitiveracing
@arb4x4usa
@rigdsupply
@reikawheels
@maxtraxhq
@factor55

The TransAmerica Trail Subaru build continues! Her

The TransAmerica Trail Subaru build continues! Here's a video wrap-up of the latest developments with the 2025 Crosstrek Wilderness and its associated upgrades and equipment we plan to use for our month-long off-road TAT endeavor.

•@bfgoodrichtires: 225/65 R17 KO2 all-terrain tires

•@rallyinnovations: 2024+ Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Rally Light Bar

•@bajadesigns: XL-R Pro LED auxiliary lights

•@primitiveracing: Triple Armor front, transmission, rear skid plates

•@arb4x4usa: Classic Series II vehicle fridge, 2.0M Soft Case Awning With Light, Single Motor Portable 12-Volt Air Compressor, Speedy Seal Tire Repair Kit

•@rigdsupply: UltraSwing Short Fit Hitch Spare Tire Mount and SideHack

•@reikawheels: 17X8 (+38) satin black Seeker wheels

•@ecoflowtech: DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station and 800W Alternator Charger

•@maxtraxhq: XTREME vehicle recovery boards (their new LITE boards also work for AWDs)

•@factor55: HitchLink 2.0 rear hitch-mounted recovery point

We were sent a few more pics of our @subaru_usa Tr

We were sent a few more pics of our @subaru_usa TransAmerica Trail build! Freshly installed are @primitiveracing front, transmission, and rear skid plates to help protect us against trail hazards, as well as a @rigdsupply UltraSwing Short Fit Hitch Spare Tire Mount and SideHack fuel can holder and @factor55 HitchLink 2.0 recovery point. Much more to come as this vehicle comes together. We can't wait to meet her! 💙 Link in @crankshaftculture's bio to read about our month-long self-supported off-road drive across the United States.

Our first glimpse of our TransAmerica Trail 2025 @

Our first glimpse of our TransAmerica Trail 2025 @subaru_usa Crosstrek Wilderness! Upgrades and mods start NOW. We're also testing our Starlink Mini so we can stay connected during our month-long off-road effort, and decals just got cut, too!

Here is a list of aftermarket modifications/key gear:

•BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires
•Reika satin black Seeker wheels
•Primitive Racing front, transmission, and rear skid plates
•Rally Innovations 2024+ Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Rally Light Bar mount
•Baja Designs XL-R Pro LED Lights
•RiG’d Supply UltraSwing Short Fit Hitch Spare Tire Mount and SideHack fuel can holder
•MAXTRAX XTREME recovery boards
•ARB Classic Series II fridge, 2.0M Soft Case Awning with Light, Single Motor Portable 12-Volt Air Compressor, and Speedy Seal Tire Repair Kit
•Ecoflow 800W Alternator Charger and DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station
•Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0 recovery point

Stay tuned as the vehicle gets built and we swing into full-on prep mode for this epic endeavor!

LATEST BLOG DROP: Our 2025 @vw Tiguan first-drive

LATEST BLOG DROP: Our 2025 @vw Tiguan first-drive feature! We recently attended the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan event in Bozeman, Montana. Although the weather offered steady rain and wind, that didn’t dampen our spirits when testing VW’s third-generation five-seat SUV. @mercedes_lilienthal takes a deep dive into the popular platform and its features and shares nearly 30 original photos! Link in bio to check it out. 📸: @mercedes_lilienthal

The 2025 @wickedbigmeet is in TWO WEEKS! If you're

The 2025 @wickedbigmeet is in TWO WEEKS! If you're in or near the Stafford Springs, CT area June 8, stop by and check it out. Stay tuned, details on why we, @andy_lilienthal and @mercedes_lilienthal, will be there coming soon!

Our Delica has provided us five years of all-terra

Our Delica has provided us five years of all-terrain travel. It's taken us through 23 states and British Columbia. Here's to many more years of exploring. Happy Birthday, #TravelTractor!

We had a great trip over the last 10 days. We went

We had a great trip over the last 10 days. We went from Portland, OR to Bozeman, MT for the launch of the @vw Tiguan, then down to Flagstaff, AZ for @overlandexpo West. We took in the sights, saw friends, learned about new products, and worked along the way, with articles to come. Total mileage: 3,288. The #TravelTractor (1994 Delica) did great as a car, an off-roader, and house. A well-deserved oil change and bath are definitely on the horizon.

#crankshaftculture #unitedbyhorsepower #everyvehicleisanadventure #jdm #rhd #delica

We just attended @vw's first drive event of the al

We just attended @vw's first drive event of the all-new 2025 Tiguan SUV lineup! We drove the SE and top-of-the-line SEL R-Line trims and have a lot to say about them. Social stories rolling out about this vehicle now. Articles to come soon!

We're checking out the 2025 @vw Tiguan in Bozeman.

We're checking out the 2025 @vw Tiguan in Bozeman. Restyled and more powerful, we'll have more about this turbocharged SUV soon. #vw #volkswagen #tiguan

We'll be heading to Overland Expo West in the #Tra

We'll be heading to Overland Expo West in the #TravelTractor our 1994 Mitsubishi Delica. Hope to see some of you at @overlandexpo West!

The @the1moto brings in eclectic, eccentric, and a

The @the1moto brings in eclectic, eccentric, and amazing motorcycle builds to Portland. There's also a cool car component to make this one top-notch show. More pics at link in bio.

Our month-long cross-country off-road drive is hap

Our month-long cross-country off-road drive is happening soon! We're piloting a slightly modified 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness for the month-long (plus) trek. @andy_lilienthal will be the driver, and @mercedes_lilienthal will be the navigator. In addition to reputable rubber, beefy skid plates, and top-quality LED auxiliary lights mounted on a stout front light bar, we're also doing the following:

•@arb4x4usa: vehicle fridge, awning, and single portable air compressor
•@rigdsupply: rear spare tire carrier and MAXTRAX/fuel can holder
•@reikawheels: wheels plus full-size spare
•@ecoflowtech: power station and alternator charger
•@maxtraxhq: four XTREME vehicle recovery boards (their new LITE boards would also work for AWDs)
•@factor55 rear hitch-mounted recovery point

These upgrades and key gear items will help us complete the cross-continent TransAmerica Trail. More to come via @crankshaftculture as we near our time to dive into the dirt.

We expect to encounter many challenging obstacles

We expect to encounter many challenging obstacles during our TransAmerica Trail (TAT) off-road effort—spanning appr. 7,100 miles from North Carolina to Oregon. For this reason, we'll be using beefy skid plates from @primitiveracing to help protect vital underbody components on our 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. Each skid plate (front, transmission, and rear) is made in the U.S. from rugged 3/16 thick aluminum. 🇺🇲 They're easy to install with direct bolts, no drilling, cutting, or modifying required. They'll maximize ground clearance while keeping optimal approach, break-over, and departure angles. Plus, they'll add jack-up points if we need them! We run Primitive skid plates on our personal 2022 Subaru Crosstrek and have rallied in the dirt, gravel, snow, and ice with them without a flinch. So we're putting them up for the ultimate off-road adventure: TAT.

Our coast-to-coast TransAmerica Trail off-road dri

Our coast-to-coast TransAmerica Trail off-road drive will be long and tough. This month-long (plus) self-supported effort in a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness will cover over 7,000 miles of varied terrain, so having high-quality auxiliary lights to illuminate our surroundings is essential. We'll have @bajadesigns XL-R Pro LED lights mounted on a Rally Innovations light bar mount. These aux lights are waterproof, rainproof, and submersible. They'll feature amber combo lenses that'll cut through dust, offering maximum trail coverage with driving and spot optics while using next-generation LED technology. (These lights are shown on a Subaru Outback.)

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Recent Posts

Oregon State Senator Introduces Bill to (Hopefully) Legalize Kei Vehicles
Want Kei Cars Legal in Oregon? Read on.
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan First Drive: Refined and Ready for Road-Worthy Adventures
Our 1994 Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear Walkaround Video
The 2025 One Moto Show Brings Eccentric and Eclectic Bikes and Cars to Portland

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